Q&A

How long will the MAPS 3 sales tax last?
It will last seven years and nine months. It began on April 1, 2010.

What is sales tax?
Generally, when anyone makes a retail purchase in Oklahoma City, they pay an additional amount on every dollar in sales taxes. The MAPS model has been to add one cent on every dollar to the sales tax already collected.
The residents of Oklahoma City who live in the portion of the City located in Oklahoma County pay an additional 8.375 cents in sales tax for every dollar spent.   Of the 8.375 cents per dollar that citizens of Oklahoma City spend, 4.50 cents goes to the State of Oklahoma general fund, to be spent by the State Legislature. The other 3.875 cents goes to the City of Oklahoma City.  Of that 3.875, the general fund of the City receives 2.00 cents (two-thirds of which goes to public safety), public safety receives an additional 0.75 cents, and the Zoo receives 0.125 (1/8th). These taxes were each approved by votes of the people, and do not have an end date.   One cent on every dollar now goes to MAPS 3.  Unlike the other taxes, the MAPS tax is temporary.
 
The portions of Oklahoma City that are in Cleveland County, Canadian County or Pottawatomie County are also subject to an additional county sales tax. Oklahoma County does not have a county sales tax.

When a MAPS 3 sales tax ends, does that mean the construction ends?
No. MAPS projects are built debt-free (as opposed to a bond issue project), and it takes time for the money to be collected and spent efficiently. For example, the MAPS for Kids sales tax was passed in 2001, took effect in 2002, and ended in 2008. But because of the time it takes to plan and build school buildings, completion of all the projects won’t occur until 2012. The completion of the original MAPS projects also took several more years after the last tax funds were collected. Every MAPS initiative has essentially been a 10-12 year process from the vote to the completion of the last project. The MAPS 3 conversation began January 17, 2007, and the successful vote was held December 8, 2009. It is very possible that the last project may not be finished until 2022.

Who oversees the implementation of MAPS 3?
Oklahoma City staff, under the guidance of the elected Mayor and Council, with the assistance of the Citizen Advisory Board and subcommittees.