Broken Arrow holds public hearing on proposed FY 2026 budget; final adoption set for June 16

City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 municipal budget and opened a statutorily required public hearing, emphasizing conservative revenue assumptions and pay-as-you-go capital priorities.

Tom Cook and City Manager Spurgeon reviewed the budget book and the executive summary used in the budget workshop, saying copies are available at City Hall and online. The proposed all-funds spending plan totals $455,957,612, which staff said represents a 3.44% decrease from the current year’s total spending plan. The City’s general fund proposal is $153,662,215 and staff projected sales tax receipts to grow about 1.5% over fiscal 2025 estimates.

The presentation outlined major operating and capital categories: proposed operational expenditures of roughly $184 million (noting an increase in operating costs), capital outlay of about $232.6 million (a decline year over year), and debt service of roughly $42.1 million. Staff emphasized sales tax as the largest operating revenue source and noted the city’s continued dependence on that elastic revenue stream. The municipal sales tax composition and the half‑percent SDCI (sales tax capital improvement) fund were explained, with staff noting an estimated roughly $11 million available in the SDCI fund for pay‑as‑you‑go capital projects and an approximate $22.5 million in rollover encumbrances for in‑progress projects.

Presenters called out several departmental highlights from the budget workshop, including briefings by Fire Chief Jeremy Moore and Utilities Director Tim Robbins. For the Municipal Authority (BAMA) the FY 2026 budget was presented as $177.24 million with planned OWRB projects and a note that a future rate adjustment will be discussed separately. Staff also summarized the plan for selling general-obligation bonds tied to voter-authorized packages and previewed the council’s upcoming work on a 2026 bond initiative.

City staff opened the public hearing on the proposed FY 2026 budget and asked for comments. One member of the public asked about the $42 million in debt service and whether property taxes could be used instead; staff explained constitutional limits and the voter‑approval requirement for general‑obligation bonds. No members of the public offered additional testimony. City staff said final adoption of the FY 2026 budget is scheduled for the June 16 council meeting, when councilors will be asked to vote.

The public hearing record remains open for that final vote; staff encouraged residents to review the executive summary and supporting sections in the budget book posted online and at City Hall.