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Broken Arrow council recap: $415 million geobond package proposed, residents asked for feedback
Summary
City officials reviewed a proposed $415 million geobond package that they say would not raise the property tax rate for propositions 1–7, described a separate temporary half-cent sales-tax proposal for sports facilities, and highlighted a $250,000 federal grant and a water-plant contract approved the same night.
City of Broken Arrow officials on Tuesday, Dec. 2 summarized a proposed $415 million geobond package and urged residents to review recommended projects and submit feedback on the city website.
Councilor David Pickle said the initial concept for infrastructure projects began as about $1.2 billion and was reduced to a $415 million capital-improvement proposal after public forums and surveys. "It's no new taxes. It does not raise the tax base, with this bond," Pickle said, describing propositions 1 through 7 as not requiring a property tax-rate increase.
Pickle said a separate proposition 8 would ask voters to approve a half-cent temporary sales-tax increase for up to five years to fund upgrades to sports facilities intended to attract tournament revenue.
Hosts said roughly half of the $415 million is earmarked for streets and roads, and slightly more than 17% is earmarked for public safety — together accounting for about 70% of the package. Aaron McCullough of the city's communications team noted the 2018 bond for roads totaled $211 million.
Officials also reported council approval to accept a $250,000 federal grant from the COPS Hiring Program to subsidize two new police officer positions. "They received a $250,000 federal grant to hire 2 new police officers," Pickle said during the recap.
Separately, the council approved a construction contract to add a second brine tank at the municipal water-treatment facility to provide redundancy should the primary tank run low; staff said the contract is about $1 million and that water utilities capital improvements for the fiscal year total roughly $20 million to $25 million.
Councilors encouraged residents to view the recommended projects and fill out the online feedback form. Pickle said the council will consider accepting the recommendations at its next meeting on the 16th and will prepare a resolution to call an April election on the propositions.
For full agenda documents and meeting minutes, the hosts directed residents to the City of Broken Arrow website under Agendas and Minutes.
The council also closed with community announcements for a Rotary pancake breakfast at First Methodist Church, the Civitan Christmas parade and Santa's Village at New Orleans Square.
