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| Public Safety FactsThere is some misleading information floating around lately regarding public safety funding and staffing in Oklahoma City. Those opposed to this MAPS have claimed it does nothing to address public safety needs and that it will actually cause public safety issues. Myth: This MAPS does not support public safety. The "Not This MAPS" coalition website states that "out of ¾ of a billion dollars, not one dime is being spent on ... emergency services – namely police and fire." (1) Fact: This MAPS directly supports public safety. Let’s start by explaining how public safety is funded in Oklahoma City. More than two-thirds of the City's general fund is applied towards police and fire protection, as well as a dedicated ¾ of a cent sales tax. That’s more than a quarter-of-a-billion dollars ($285 million) of City funds that are spent every year on public safety. (2) (See City Budget FY 2009-2010). Public safety has also received $60 million of use tax revenue from MAPS For Kids, which passed in 2001. In Oklahoma, sales taxes are accompanied by use taxes, which are primarily paid by businesses on products purchased from out of state that are intended to be used in Oklahoma. The revenue generated from the MAPS For Kids use tax has been used for public safety capital projects, such as police cars, fire trucks, police helicopters, and fire stations. Myth: A recent staffing study shows the need for additional officers. Fact: The same report suggested a simple solution to staffing needs that would not require hiring additional officers. The opposition to this MAPS has cited the need for additional officers as outlined in an independent study prepared by Berkshire Advisors, Inc. in October 2008 (download report here). Another option for meeting staffing needs presented in this same report is to require police officers to work five eight-hour days a week instead of the current four ten-hour days. The report says that this simple adjustment to the schedule would put more than enough police officers on the streets without needing to hire any additional officers. The MAPS Public Safety ImpactUse Tax Revenue Both Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, a former police officer, and Oklahoma City Councilman Gary Marrs, a former Oklahoma City Fire Chief, cite this pledge and its potential impact on public safety spending as a significant factor in their support of this MAPS proposal.(2) A Growing Economy Revenues from the ¾ of a cent sales tax that is dedicated to public safety will also increase. Because of the economic growth since the first MAPS, that tax now brings in $70 Million a year that is used exclusively for public safety. Bottom LineClaims of public safety being neglected or safety issues being caused by this MAPS proposal are simply false. A "Yes" vote is a vote to improve public safety, through a growing economy and use tax fees dedicated to public safety expenditures. Vote YES for MAPS on December 8. (1) Not This Maps Coalition. Web. 16 Nov. 2009. <http://nomaps3.com/index.html> (2) City of Oklahoma City Public Information Office. "Mayor, District Attorney, (3) Estus, John. "MAPS 3 Use Tax to Fund Safety in Oklahoma City." NewsOK.com. The
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