A 1-cent county sales tax proposition to fund a new Garvin County detention center failed Tuesday by a 61-vote margin.
The final vote tally was 762 votes, or 52.8%, against the sales tax and 701 votes, or 47.02%, in favor of the measure, according to unofficial election results from the Garvin County Election Board.
The failed proposition would have provided funding for a new standalone detention center to replace the existing county jail located in the courthouse annex. County officials have spent the last several weeks holding community meetings across the county to share details of the project and explain why they feel it is needed.
“I want to take a moment to personally thank the great citizens of Garvin County for taking the time to vote and for listening to the vision we shared for the future of our county. … I remain humbled and grateful for the engagement and conversations we’ve had throughout this process,” Garvin County Sheriff Jim Mullett said in a social media post Tuesday night.
In a statement to the News Star Wednesday, Mullett said, “While we had hoped to move forward with a new detention center that would not only modernize our facilities but also create jobs and serve future needs, we respect the voice of the people. This was never about just today, but about build-ing a safer, stronger county for generations to come.
Mullett said despite the setback, his office remains dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of the county, adding he doesn’t view this as the end of the conversation, but rather an opportunity to reassess and refine the county’s approach.
“We will go back to the drawing board, evaluate our next steps, and continue working toward solutions that serve the best interests of Garvin County,” Mullett said. “Our commitment to public safety remains unwavering, and we will keep pushing forward.”
The 1,463 total votes cast in Tuesday’s county sales tax election represent 8.7% of the 16,843 voters registered in Garvin County, according to a report released by the Oklahoma State Election Board Jan. 15.
In Wynnewood, voters approved a ballot measure Tuesday to permanently extend an existing 1-cent sales tax that was set to expire in June. That measure passed by 49 votes, with 84 voters, or 70.59%, voting in favor of the proposition, and 35, or 29.41%, voting against it.
The proposition also changes the purpose of the 1-cents tax, reallocating the funds collected from dedicated use for street repair and maintenance to general municipal government needs.
“We are very excited the proposition passed. The additional funds will be used to help fix current infrastructure needs, primarily sewer,” Wynnewood Mayor Keith Huitt said Wednesday.
The 119 total votes cast in that election represent 10% of the 1,180 registered voters eligible to vote in Wynnewood municipal elections, according to numbers provided by the Garvin County Election Board Wednesday.
Election results from Tuesday’s special elections are expected to be certified by the county election board after 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14.