NUMBERS THAT WERE PREVIEWED FOR CITY COUNCIL TODAY. THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY SAYS IN ABOUT TEN DAYS, THEY’LL HAVE THE FINAL BREAKDOWN OF SALES TAX FROM THIS SUMMER. AND PART OF THOSE PROJECTED NUMBERS INCLUDE A MAJOR JUMP IN JUST ONE MONTH. THE CITY OF OKC ADMITTING TO A SHAKY FINANCIAL START DURING A NEW FISCAL YEAR BETWEEN SALES AND USE TAX, WERE DOWN ABOUT $1.2 MILLION IN THE FIRST MONTH. BUT DESPITE THE LOSS, THEY SAY THERE’S A PROJECTED SPIKE THAT WILL TURN EVERYTHING AROUND. WE’VE ALREADY GOT PRELIMINARY NUMBERS ON THE AUGUST SALES TAX CHECK. IT IS VERY STRONG GROWTH AND A LOT OF THAT’S, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE THE LAST PART OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS AND THEN GETTING THE FINALS THAT WE THINK IS HAVING AN EFFECT. WE DON’T HAVE THE DETAIL, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT. AND IT’S ABOUT 9% GROWTH, 9% GROWTH THAT COULD BE CONNECTED TO THE OKC THUNDER SUCCESS A SUCCESS. BUSINESSES ACROSS OKC FELT THIS SUMMER. FROM T-SHIRT STORES, I THINK WE HAD LIKE 160 OR 170% INCREASE OVER JUNE OF LAST YEAR. SO YEAH, BIG DIFFERENCE TO COOKIE SALES. SO THE MONTH OF JUNE WAS DEFINITELY LIKE RECORD BREAKING NUMBERS FOR US. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. WE HAD WE HAD DAYS WHERE THE LINE WAS OUT THE DOOR FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. EVEN BARS AND RESTAURANTS SEEING RECORD BREAKING SALES IN THE MONTH OF JUNE BECAUSE OF THE THUNDER. WE’RE HAVING TO UP OUR DELIVERY DAYS AND DOUBLE AND TRIPLE ORDER FOOD, BEER, LIQUOR. WE’RE BRINGING IN MORE PRODUCT, MORE PEOPLE. OUR STAFF IS ALL HANDS ON DECK AT THIS POINT. THE CITY OF OKC SAYS ONCE SALES TAXES COLLECTED BY A BUSINESS, IT GOES TO THE TAX COMMISSION, THEN TO THE CITY. SO THERE’S SEVERAL WEEKS OF DELAY BEFORE THE IMPACT APPEARS. THAT’S WHY THE AUGUST PROJECTED NUMBERS COULD SHOW A MAJOR JUMP, REFLECTING WHAT BUSINESSES CALLED A RECORD BREAKING MONTH OF JUNE. AS THOUSANDS CELEBRATED THE OKC THUNDER, AND IN THE NEXT TEN DAYS, THEY’LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHERE THAT SALES TAX CAME FROM. IF IT WAS RESTAURANTS, HOTELS OR
OKC sees sales tax surge amid Thunder’s championship run
Oklahoma City officials report a significant increase in sales tax revenue, potentially linked to the Thunder’s success in the Western Conference finals.
Updated: 5:21 PM CDT Aug 13, 2025
Oklahoma City officials have reported a significant increase in sales tax revenue, which they believe may be connected to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s successful run in the Western Conference finals.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelThe chief financial officer for the city of Oklahoma City said he will have a final breakdown of the sales tax from this summer, in about 10 days, with projected numbers showing a major jump in just one month. The city admitted to a shaky financial start during the new fiscal year. “Between sales and used tax we’re down about 1.2 million dollars in the first month,” said Craig Freeman, city manager of Oklahoma City. Despite the loss, Freeman noted a projected spike that could turn everything around. “We’ve already gotten preliminary numbers on the August sales tax check, it is very strong growth and a lot of that is the last part of the Western Conference finals and then getting the finals, we think is having an effect. We don’t have the detail but we think would have an effect and it’s about 9 percent growth,” Freeman said.Businesses across Oklahoma City felt the impact of the Thunder’s success this summer, from T-shirt stores to cookie sales. “I think we had like 160 or 170 percent increase over June of last year, so, yeah, big difference,” said Caleb Arter, owner of Blue Seven.”The month of June was definitely, like, record-breaking numbers for us. It was incredible, we had days where the line was out the door for such a long time,” said Stefanie Embree, owner of OKC Sweets.Even bars and restaurants saw record-breaking sales in June because of the Thunder. “We’re having to up our delivery days and double and triple order food, beer, liquor,” said Jamie Tompkins, event manager at Fassler Hall.”We’re bringing in more product, more people, our staff is all hands on deck at this point,” said Jessica Tyson, general manager at Truck Yard OKC.The city of Oklahoma City explained that once sales tax is collected by a business, it goes to the tax commission and then to the city, resulting in several weeks of delay before the impact appears.The projected August numbers could show a major jump, reflecting what businesses called a record-breaking month of June as thousands celebrated the OKC Thunder. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.In 10 days, the city will have a better idea of where exactly the sales tax came from, whether it was mostly restaurants, hotels, or stores.Top HeadlinesConsumer prices rose 2.7% in July. See how your grocery item prices have changed over the past yearScheels announces location and opening date for Oklahoma City storeOklahoma City Zoo announces birth of Plains zebra foalOHP: 28-year-old man dies after being hit by vehicle on I-40 in Oklahoma CountyPolice identify man shot and killed over weekend at northeast Oklahoma City apartment complex
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Oklahoma City officials have reported a significant increase in sales tax revenue, which they believe may be connected to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s successful run in the Western Conference finals.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
The chief financial officer for the city of Oklahoma City said he will have a final breakdown of the sales tax from this summer, in about 10 days, with projected numbers showing a major jump in just one month.
The city admitted to a shaky financial start during the new fiscal year.
“Between sales and used tax we’re down about 1.2 million dollars in the first month,” said Craig Freeman, city manager of Oklahoma City.
Despite the loss, Freeman noted a projected spike that could turn everything around.
“We’ve already gotten preliminary numbers on the August sales tax check, it is very strong growth and a lot of that is the last part of the Western Conference finals and then getting the finals, we think is having an effect. We don’t have the detail but we think would have an effect and it’s about 9 percent growth,” Freeman said.
Businesses across Oklahoma City felt the impact of the Thunder’s success this summer, from T-shirt stores to cookie sales.
“I think we had like 160 or 170 percent increase over June of last year, so, yeah, big difference,” said Caleb Arter, owner of Blue Seven.
“The month of June was definitely, like, record-breaking numbers for us. It was incredible, we had days where the line was out the door for such a long time,” said Stefanie Embree, owner of OKC Sweets.
Even bars and restaurants saw record-breaking sales in June because of the Thunder.
“We’re having to up our delivery days and double and triple order food, beer, liquor,” said Jamie Tompkins, event manager at Fassler Hall.
“We’re bringing in more product, more people, our staff is all hands on deck at this point,” said Jessica Tyson, general manager at Truck Yard OKC.
The city of Oklahoma City explained that once sales tax is collected by a business, it goes to the tax commission and then to the city, resulting in several weeks of delay before the impact appears.
The projected August numbers could show a major jump, reflecting what businesses called a record-breaking month of June as thousands celebrated the OKC Thunder.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
In 10 days, the city will have a better idea of where exactly the sales tax came from, whether it was mostly restaurants, hotels, or stores.
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