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City outlines outreach and estimates for proposed $468M bond package, officials deny plans to renew temporary tax
Summary
Broken Arrow officials briefed the council and public on outreach for an eight-proposition 2026 general-obligation bond package, saying professional engineers developed the $415M (props 1–7) and ~$53M (prop 8) estimates and that the administration does not intend to seek an extension of the temporary sales tax.
City staff gave a detailed public-education update on a proposed 2026 general-obligation bond package at the Broken Arrow City Council meeting.
An administration presenter told the council the package was shaped after more than two years of community feedback and that the eight propositions were approved by council on Jan. 6. The speaker said professional estimates for the projects were produced with consulting engineer Jacobs working with the city’s engineering and construction teams. According to the presentation, propositions 1 through 7 total about $415 million; proposition 8 is roughly $53 million. The presenter said those figures will be refined with project-specific bidding and design if voters approve the measures.
Officials described an extensive outreach campaign that the city is carrying out during the public-education phase: close to 30 meetings so far, targeted HOA presentations including a 10-week HOA initiative, presentations to the chamber of commerce and economic development council, utility-bill mailings, social media, and planned presentations to local school boards. Aaron (city communications) told the council the city is averaging about 15 calls per week to the bond information line, with most calls asking about street projects and tax impacts.
Council members and staff said the most frequent public question has been whether the city will return to voters later to extend the temporary sales tax used to pay for the projects. The presenter and at least one council member said they have no intention of recommending an extension; they also noted that any extension would require a vote of the people.
City staff emphasized that the bond package estimates were developed from recent contract data and square-footage cost models and that detailed, project-level estimates will follow if propositions advance to bidding. The administration said public education and outreach will continue through early April, with additional public meetings scheduled.
The council did not take a final, binding vote on the bond package at the meeting; the presentation was intended as an informational update and outreach status report.
