Earlier this month, 54% of Norman voters approved an $8 million general obligation bond for the purposes of constructing a permanent homeless shelter.
Following the results of the election, a lawsuit was filed in Cleveland County challenging the constitutionality of the funding, arguing the homeless shelter does not qualify as a public utility and therefore is not eligible to be funded by the city under the Oklahoma Constitution. The lawsuit also took issue with the proposition not passing with a 60% supermajority of the vote.
Judge Michael Tupper dismissed the case in a hearing Wednesday morning, allowing for the construction of the shelter to continue. City officials have said they expect the shelter to be built within two years.
This comes amid confusion over enforcement of anti-encampment laws on state property near the location of the future shelter.
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