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Broken Arrow officials pitch temporary half-cent sales tax to fund $52 million in sports-facility upgrades alongside 2026 GO bond
Summary
City officials said a potential eighth ballot measure would fund roughly $52 million in improvements to local sports facilities through a temporary half-cent sales tax for five years, distinct from the general obligation bond paid by property taxes.
Broken Arrow city officials said they are considering a separate, temporary half-cent sales tax to fund about $52 million in upgrades to local sports facilities if voters approve the city—s proposed April 2026 bond measures.
City communications director Aaron McCullough said the general obligation bond process under way would fund capital improvements such as street widenings, public safety and parks through property taxes tied to net assessed value. He said the bond package has a $400,000,000 capacity but officials were considering about $600,000,000 in candidate projects and must reduce that list before the ballot.
Officials framed the temporary sales-tax proposal — described as a five-year, half-of-one-cent increase that would sunset after five years — as distinct from the GO bond because it would collect revenue sooner and fund athletics-specific projects. "That sales tax would go directly towards all of the facility improvements that we've talked about — $52,000,000 worth of improvements," McCullough said.
Councilor David Pickle said the temporary measure was intended to produce more immediate results than some bond-funded projects, which could take several years to reach construction. "It does have an end date. So after 5 years, it would stop," Pickle said, adding voters could see new lighting, parking and fields sooner if the measure passed.
Officials named facilities under consideration for upgrades, including Indian Springs Sports Complex, Arrowhead Park and Nienhaus, and said the improvements would benefit youth and adult leagues by addressing lighting, turf and drainage issues. City officials also cited potential economic benefits, saying better facilities could attract repeat visitors who spend at hotels and restaurants.
McCullough said the existing general obligation bond would not increase the property tax rate and that the sales-tax proposition would be funded differently if placed on the ballot. City staff plan a public micro-survey on the proposal; McCullough said the survey will launch Sept. 22 and run for three weeks to gather citizen feedback.
The council—s public discussion included background about a 2018 GO bond allocation in which $17.7 million went to parks and recreation. Officials said current cost estimates for new facilities are substantially higher than the 2018 allocation; an updated written cost estimate was not specified in the meeting transcript.
Discussion only — no final vote reported: the radio summary described council consideration and planned public engagement but did not record a motion or vote on placing the sales-tax measure on the ballot.
Next steps: city staff will collect public survey responses, continue refining the bond project list and return to council with details to set any ballot language and timing. For details and agenda documents, McCullough said residents can consult the city website under agendas and minutes.
