Run-off Election Surprise!

…………… Say NO and save $$$……….

Many people know that there is a run-off election for the sheriff’s race in Washington County on August 25th. But did you know for the city of Bartlesville there is also a bunch of bonded indebtedness on the ballot? Do you know how much money a handful of people will be deciding on? Well let’s take a look at the sample ballots and then talk about that.

Here’s a summary of ballot items in Washington County. If you want to pull your own sample ballot go to http://ok.gov/elections and type in your name and birthdate as prompted:

Sample ballot for the run-off in the sheriff’s race:

I recommend a vote for Scott Owen.

Sample ballot for the City of Bartlesville:

If you want to download a pdf version of the sheriff’s race press download buttonDownload

If you want to download a pdf version of the City of Bartlesville propositions press download buttonDownload

So that’s it folks hidden in plain sight on the run-off election day is bonded indebtedness of $16,400,000 (that is over 16 million dollars) and an extension of 1/2% sales tax to June 30, 2026. IF you said NO we could get a reduction in sales tax burden. If you said NO we could keep our property taxes more stable. But the thing that makes me the maddest is that a handful of people will decide this for everyone. This should have been on the general election voting day – NOT the primary run-off election day!

Well I am just one vote but I’ll be saying NO five times!

Sandra Crosnoe

for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Photo credit: Graphic is from The Rat in the Hat available on Scribd to read/share/download https://www.scribd.com/document/15965899/The-Rat-in-the-Hat

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How many people decided your taxes would not go down in Washington County’s Secret Election July 9th?

Here’s the results:

Here’s a link to this graphic from the Oklahoma State Election Board:

https://results.okelections.us/OKER/?elecDate=20190709

I have several problems with this results:

• few people even knew about this election
• it was scheduled when many people are on vacation
• why are these special elections not consolidated into once a year when there is plenty of reason to go vote
• what about all the wasted ballots printed and thrown away
• look at all the waste in hiring election workers over and over and over again
• most importantly – where was the public debate on why this ‘stuff’ was needed instead of reducing spending?
• did I mention low voter turnout? (at my precinct out of about 3500 people I was number 111 about 5:30PM)

Come on people – we can do better than this! Did you know there will be a school bond election next month? Bet you will hear lots about that one! Can you see how the media manipulates the outcome by their silence and by what they promote? People who care about taxing and spending better get involved and organize their precincts. Let’s get these local elections consolidated too!

Oh and one more thing, let’s learn the difference between “it won’t make your taxes go up” and reducing spending obligations!

Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Is Washington County Having a Secret Election – July 9th?

Well you are probably more informed than I am, but I just found out about it from an email from the Oklahoma Election Board (email received on July 4th):

============================================================== “Early Voting Begins! Early voting begins today for nine Oklahoma counties. Voters in Alfalfa, Canadian, Cleveland, Dewey, Kiowa, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Washington, and Woodward County will decide a number of propositions. Voters may vote by in-person absentee ballot Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at their County Election Board.The State Election Board reminds voters that not everyone will have an election. If there is an election in your precinct, you will find a sample ballot using our Online Voter Tool at: https://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Online_Voter_Tool/. For a complete list of elections, go to: https://www.ok.gov/elections/Election_Info/Upcoming_Elections/index.html.Oklahoma law requires voters to provide proof of identity when voting. Learn more  at: https://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Proof_of_Identity/index.html.Questions? Please contact your County Election Board or State Election Board Public Information Officer, Misha Mohr at: mmohr@elections.ok.gov or by phone at (405) 522-6624. Click here to subscribe or unsubscribe from topic “ ==============================================================

I recommend you subscribe to this publication so you won’t miss one of these secret tax/bond elections! I sure wish these types of elections had to be on a national election ballot so more people who actually pay the taxes could say no. Because the only way we get them to stop doing this is to say NO over and over again so there is incentive for government – local, state, and federal to live within their means. Oh well, that would be my 2 cents anyway.

So now you know there is an election – how do you find out what is on the ballot? I use this handy dandy online voter tool. Here’s the link (also given in the email above):

https://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Online_Voter_Tool/

If you are registered to vote, simply provide your name and birthdate and you will see your registration information. Then you can click a link to view any upcoming election ballots.

Here is this one for Washington County – Special Election July 9th 2019:

I recommend a no vote if for no other reason than for lack of information on what all this entails and why we cannot do it on existing revenue if it is justified at all. When in doubt vote no. If you turn it down they will ask again in a slightly different format. So be prepared and stay alert!

SampleBallotPDF.aspx

(link to a pdf version of sample ballot)

Sandra Crosnoe via Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Senator Nathan Dahm speaks out on huge tax increase passed — 3/4 of a $$$Billion

Senate “Republicans” just passed the largest tax increase in state history… That’s right. Three-quarters of a BILLION dollars in new taxes! To the sound of applause, my Senate colleagues raised your taxes. I had to speak up.  Watch: ​

In Oklahoma, I won’t be silent while establishment Republicans and liberal Democrats take money out of your pocket. And in Congress, I can guarantee it won’t be any different.  If you’re like me and you’ve had enough of the tax and spend RINOs, then SHARE our video and consider joining our team of grassroots conservatives. Thank you and God Bless. For the People Nathan Dahm

Results are in – Bartlesville Passed all 4 Propositions, but…

Source: https://www.ok.gov/elections/Election_Info/2018_March_Special_Election.html

All four propositions passed.  However, Proposition 2 (which included Price Tower Park and Amphitheater) passed by a much thinner margin at a little over 66%; the other propositions passed by about 79%, 83% and 81% respectively.  A voter turnout of 4,138 people made this decision for a city with a population of approximately 34,748.   Bartlesville is in a declining population mode which means fewer people will be paying into the property tax base to cover these bonds.   That is about 8% of the population voting in this special election.

Maybe we should eliminate special elections and have these matters on general election ballots so that more people would participate.  Just a thought…

For more info on what was actually on the ballot and how much money we just authorized spending – see my previous article here: https://scrosnoe.wordpress.com/2018/03/06/oklahoma-special-elections/

Finding Gems & Sharing Them – Results are in – Bartlesville Passed all 4 Propositions, but…