There is no question the City of Watonga is in need of a wastewater treatment plant and a freshwater treatment facility. The only questions are how much the infrastructure will cost and how it will be paid for.
For a long time, more than 20 years by some accounts, the waste water treatment plant has served the town as well as could be expected. But in more recent years, it has become quite a chore to keep it cobbled together, working as it should and flying under the DEQ radar. That time is rapidly drawing to a close and the city authorities have faced the fact that replacement and a new freshwater system are necessary. But the city does not have the cash on hand to simply construct the needed facilities. It has applied for grant money and will likely also get a loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, but there will be a gap between those monies and the cost of the upgrade.
On Tuesday, voters in the city went to the polls to determine whether they wanted that gap to be filled and the loan repayments made by a one percent sales tax or for city water and light patrons to foot the bill via their power statements.
City Manager Karrie Little had said before the election it was not a question of whether the city was going to make the improvements, but rather how the citizens wanted to pay for the construction.
Early voting was very light, according to Blaine County Elections Secretary Brenda Rice. She said there were less than 15 in person early voters, although there were some absentee ballots returned.
Voting on Tuesday also seemed light during the day, with little or no waiting at either City Hall or City Library precincts.
In the end, the vote wound up being 65.99% in favor of the sales tax, and 34.01% against. The tax will go into effect July 1 and is scheduled to sunset in 2055.