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Broken Arrow survey finds majority support for temporary 0.5¢ sales tax for sports-facility upgrades; council to consider adding eighth bond proposition
Summary
A city survey found 68% support among respondents for a temporary half-cent sales tax to fund sports facilities; council members said staff will factor the result into a draft 2026 general-obligation bond package and return recommendations this winter.
Aaron McCullough, a member of the City of Broken Arrow communications team, presented the results of a three-week city survey showing 68% of respondents supported a proposed temporary 0.5-cent sales tax increase that would expire after five years to fund improvements at public sports facilities.
The audience for the survey numbered 3,304, McCullough said, with 88% of respondents indicating they were registered Broken Arrow voters. He told the council the survey ran for three weeks, beginning in September and closing Oct. 13, and was promoted via social media, email newsletters and the city website.
The demographic breakdown showed stronger support among respondents with children: 78% of households reporting children under 18 backed the measure compared with 56% of households without children, McCullough said. Age cohorts ranged from 18–24 (about 1% of respondents) to 35–44 (the largest share); support was highest among 25–34 and 35–44 age groups.
City Manager Michael Spurgeon told the council the survey results and three public forums will inform a recommendation on whether to include an eighth proposition for sports facilities in a planned 2026 general-obligation bond package. Spurgeon said staff is preparing a bond package targeted to about $404 million and expects to present a recommendation and the finalized ballot language for council consideration at the Jan. 2, 2026 meeting.
Spurgeon and other council members emphasized a council condition that, if the sports proposition is placed on the ballot and passes, the city would begin design and construction work as soon as practicable so families who voted for the measure would see benefits without a long delay.
No formal action was taken at the meeting. Councilors and staff described next steps: staff will package survey and forum input, produce a recommended bond list and timing, and return to council for deliberation and formal direction this winter.
Why it matters: a temporary sales-tax proposition would be voter-facing and, if adopted, would affect local tax bills for the statute’s five-year term. Councilors said the survey result does not itself place a measure on the ballot — that decision requires a formal council direction and adoption of enabling ordinance language closer to the election timeline.
