Edmond council approves special election for up to $231 million in general obligation bonds

The Edmond City Council voted Aug. 12 to call a special election on Nov. 5, 2024, to ask voters to approve up to $231 million in general obligation bonds divided into three propositions for streets and bridges, parks and recreation, and fire facilities and equipment.

The vote followed a multiweek effort by a 25-member geo bond task force that recommended a target mill levy of 15 mills enacted over a 10-year period. Task force chair Todd McKinnis said the figure was grounded in discussion about household impacts and the practical need to fund a sizable, deliverable program: "The result was the idea of a target mill levy of 15 mills over a span of 10 years," he told the council, adding that the group weighed alternatives including 10 and 20 mills.

Why it matters: Council members and staff framed the proposal as a once-in-a-generation funding opportunity to address decades of deferred maintenance and to invest in safety and quality-of-life projects. The task force presented a prioritized allocation that, in staff briefings, broke roughly into streets and bridges (about $151 million), parks and recreation (about $70 million), and a single major public safety project plus equipment (about $10 million).

How the bond would be structured: Bond counsel described legal and ballot requirements and said the resolution before the council lists the three propositions as separate items so voters can approve or reject each one independently. Counsel also noted the city had identified project-level allocations exceeding the state'required minimum specificity (the task force aimed for at least 70% of proceeds assigned to named projects).

Public and council reaction: Firefighters and task force members spoke in support of the measure, citing response-time and facility-condition concerns. A member of the public urged transparency on tax impacts, telling the council, "This is a needed, tax increase of approximately 15%" during public comment. Task force members and councilors repeatedly pointed listeners to online materials including meeting recordings and project maps for details.

Next steps: With the council's passage of resolution 27-24 calling the special election, staff will file election documents and begin the education and outreach phase. The council also approved a $70,000 agreement with Gooden Group Inc. to produce nonpartisan educational materials for the public and to help explain the propositions and tax impacts.

The resolution passed during the Aug. 12 meeting; the bond questions will appear on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot if election procedures are completed as authorized by the resolution.