MUSKOGEE COUNTY, Okla. — On Jan. 14, voters in Muskogee County will head to the polls to decide whether to pass a sales tax for public safety.

If voters approve the proposition, police, fire, sheriff, EMS, emergency management and the 911 center will all operate under one roof.

“I honestly believe this is the most important vote that I’ve seen in my 37 years at the Muskogee Police Department,” Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee said.

If the Muskogee County Public Safety 2025 proposition passes, the roughly 0.8% tax would fund shared police, fire and emergency services projects. Those projects are expected to cost $60 million.

Once the projects are completed, the tax would drop to 0.5% to fund EMS and public safety. The current county sales tax rate is 0.65%.

If the proposal passes, the new rate would be 1.499% for the first 7-10 years, then the new rate would be 1.15%. This doesn’t include state or municipal taxes.

Teehee said their police radios are outdated and their fleet is over mileage. Plus, the police department building is full of leaky pipes, which puts public records and evidence at risk of getting ruined. Plus, it isn’t ADA-compliant.

FOX23 spoke with a Muskogee County voter who is for the improvements but is voting “no” on the proposition.

“That’s a tough one and I understand that. The information that I’ve put out is that we’ve put all the information out. We’re trying to be open and transparent on the entire process and you need to vote according to what’s best for you,” Teehee said.

The Muskogee County EMS central hub hopes voters check “yes” so ambulances will get to them in a shorter time. Where they are now, railroad crossings delay ambulances.

Muskogee County EMS responds to more than 20,000 calls each year, including coverage to rural communities.

“We will no longer have to charge the most vulnerable population that uses our system,” said Laurel Havens, executive director of Muskogee County EMS.

Teehee said Fort Gibson, Haskell, and Warner also need upgrades.

“This is a way that as a county we all succeed,” Teehee said.

For more information on the sales tax, click here.

You can look at a sample ballot below: