On Nov. 3, Tulsa residents will vote on a ballot measure that would raise the city’s hotel guest tax from the current 5% to 9.9%. City officials estimate the higher rate could bring in roughly $20.6 million each year, funds earmarked for upgrades to major cultural and convention facilities.
The additional revenue is slated for improvements at the BOK Center, the Arvest Convention Center and the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, as well as broader tourism initiatives aimed at attracting more events and visitors to the region, according to KTUL.
Supporters argue the tax hike will strengthen Tulsa’s entertainment economy without burdening local taxpayers. Cassidy Lunnen, chair of the Oklahoma Motion Picture Alliance, told KTUL the proposal would help Tulsa stay competitive with nearby Oklahoma City, which levies a 9.25% hotel guest tax. She noted that even modest film productions can channel “about 60 percent into labor and 40 percent into goods and services,” creating jobs and business for local workers.
Lunnen emphasized that the tax is charged to visitors staying in hotels and short‑term rentals, not to Tulsans directly. “It has nothing to do with raising any kind of taxes on Tulsans… we are taxing the visitors,” she said, framing the increase as a way to use “other people’s money” to fund local infrastructure.
Opponents, however, caution that higher lodging costs could eventually affect everyday citizens who attend events in the city. Community organizer Marq Lewis expressed concern that a jump to 9.9% might make entertainment less affordable for residents, especially amid a fragile economy. Lewis also questioned whether the city should adopt a smaller, phased increase and called for a detailed plan outlining how the new funds would be spent and overseen.
Lewis urged city leaders to provide transparency to prevent waste and to explore ways to boost tourism using existing resources before imposing a steep tax hike.
What’s next: Voters will see the question on the Nov. 3 ballot. The city encourages residents to review the proposal details on the official election website and to attend any upcoming public forums before casting their votes.
Sources: ktul.com
