March 1, 2024

3/1/2024

Friday | March 1, 2024

THANK YOU SO MUCH

Thanks to our Industry of the Year Phillips 66, our High School will have a new STEM lab and classrooms!. Shorthand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (or if you are from Ponca City, Manufacturing), STEM aligns well with Phillips66, and Ponca City's, future employee needs.

It really has been a great couple of weeks right here in Ponca City. Look at the grin on Superintendent Leaming's face.

Thanks again Phillips66 for your investment in Ponca City! Read the full press release here

From the PCPS FB Page:

A $1 million check is presented to PCPS from Phillips66 for the new STEM facility at Ponca City High School.

Refinery Leadership Team members present at the press conference included Heath Wanamaker; General Manager; Kevin Schmitt, Operations Manager; Chad Scantlin, Technical Services Manager; Zack Montague, Maintenance Manager; Sara King, HSE Manager; and Erin Liberton, Community Relations and Public Affairs.

Talking Less Taxes

Oklahoma state map with doodle decorative ornaments. For printing on souvenirs and T-shirts

Not federal taxes. Sorry, you still have to have those submitted to the IRS by Monday, April 15th. Less tax is the bill to eliminate the state's 4.5% sales tax on groceries that Governor Stitt signed on Tuesday this week. Gov. Stitt stated the measure is needed to combat higher inflation and is expected to reduce state revenue by $418 million a year. House Bill 1955 will take effect 90 days after the Legislature closes this session and will likely become effective in late August, 2024.

What does that mean? HB 1955 eliminates the state portion of sales tax on groceries. Local sales tax will still be charged on groceries, but the Bill prohibits cities and counties from increasing sales tax until July 1, 2025. And groceries are defined as non-prepared food items. Food such as warmed pizza, fruit bowls and deli items will still be charged 4.5% state taxes.

Without the 4.5% state sales tax, this will lower grocery taxes (on non prepared/ready to eat foods) to 5.08% in Ponca City. This includes Kay County tax rate of 1.25% and Ponca City (City) tax rate of 3.83%. And why does all this matter? Because taxes are confusing at the best of times. HB1955 is about state-level taxes. Taxes at the County and Municiple level will still exist because we love our schools, like our roads drivable, can't live without our parks and RecPlex....you get the idea. The public services we all enjoy must be maintained and local taxes are how that happens. Just an explanation of taxes (or lack thereof) coming soon to a grocery store near you. And if you want to ask any questions, the next Ponca Politics forum is Friday, March 22nd at City Hall, high noon.

Business Growing Pains

Business concept vector illustration. Growth_ balance_ success_ business opportunities concept. Elements are layered separately in vector file.

All small businesses want to grow quickly, correct? They want to sell all their products/services at such a fast rate they are always scrambling to catch up. Wrong. Businesses want to be successful. Success has a different definition for every business.

And sometimes growth is too fast. How does a business keep up with this fast growth? They ask for help; for assistance with training their employees. With managing their systems. With allocating funds and utilizing inventory stocks correctly. Ponca City has some great resources to assist your company manage high growth. You just have to ask. Ask Laurence, PCDA Business Retention and Expansion Pro. Reach out to Pioneer Tech Business & Industry Services. Ponca City has many resources. Just give PCDA a call and we will get you pointed in the right direction for your business.

Ponca City Commissioners

Just one more local politics update. PCDA wishes Commissioner Paul Taylor the very best as he takes his leave of the City Commission Chambers. Mayor Nicholson presented him a service medallion for his service as City Commissioner since 2018 at the City Commission Meeting this past Monday.

New Commissioner Stephanie Austin and returning Commissioner Rob Bodick were sworn in at the same Monday meeting. Commissioner Austin and Commissioner Bodick join current Commissioners Wagner, Bowers and Mayor Nicholson as the current Ponca City (City) Commission. Whew, that's a lot of commissioning. Carry on.