Bartlesville voters said “Yes” to two ballot measures in the City’s special election on Tuesday that will provide $30.1 million in funding for capital projects through 2026.
On the ballot were five propositions for the 2020 General Obligation Bond and extension of the city’s existing half-cent Capital Improvement Projects sales tax. Both were passed by an overwhelming majority.
Passage of both items will not result in a tax increase but rather continue existing programs, said City Manager Mike Bailey.
“These elections are extremely important to our city because they determine funding for projects that improve our infrastructure and help keep our citizens safe,” Bailey said. “The City of Bartlesville relies on G.O. Bond and CIP sales tax funding for all its capital needs. And it’s important to note that these are continuations of existing programs and their approval will not result in a tax increase.
“We are incredibly grateful to Bartlesville voters for their continued support and their passage of these vital funding resources, and we do not take their trust in us lightly.”
All five propositions passed by a comfortable margin, with Streets and Bridges drawing 80 percent support.
Proposition No. 1
Funding for a 95-foot tower/ladder truck for the fire department is proposed in the 2020 GO Bond Election.
Public Safety Buildings and Equipment ($3,993,000)
Yes: 66.26 percent
No: 33.74 percent
Proposition No. 2
Municipal Buildings and Equipment ($1,408,000)
Yes: 64.79
No: 35.21
Proposition No. 3
Streets and Bridges ($8,274,000)
Yes: 80.06 percent
No: 19.94 percent
Proposition No. 4
Parks and Recreation ($2,725,000)
Yale Drive is one of many streets set for resurfacing.
Yes: 68.78 percent
No: 31.22 percent
Proposition No. 5
Half-cent CIP sales tax extension (projects totaling $13.7 million)
Yes: 66.43 percent
No: 33.57 percent
Next step
The half-cent CIP sales tax extension won’t start until July 1, 2021, but the first G.O. Bond traunche, or series of bonds, will likely be issued early 2021, Bailey said.
“This is where the real work begins,” he said. “City staff will begin working immediately with our bond council consultant, Nate Ellis of the Public Finance Law Group, to compile a schedule of projects for funding and issue our first traunche of bonds as quickly as possible. We anticipate this will be early next year.”
The series of traunches will be issued over the next three years.Follow City Beat for regular updates on these projects.
The projects
- Replacement of a 95-foot tower/ladder fire truck and equipment
- Emergency communications infrastructure/radio system
- Repairs to the Bartlesville Public Library chillers, roof and skylight
- 2 bridge rehabilitations
- Numerous street projects
- Lighting at Robinwood Park soccer fields
- Parking lot and road repairs at several City parks
- Fire station roof replacements
8 new police cars- 10 body-worn cameras for police (continuation of an existing, ongoing program)
- Replacement of several mowers and other equipment for several City departments
- General street repairs
- Pathfinder Parkway maintenance
- Sooner and Frontier pool liner repair
- Oak Park basketball court
- Sunset Pathfinder extension and pedestrian bridge (phase 1 of project)
- Security lighting for parks
- Choctaw Drainage System repairs
See complete list of projects at Capital Elections 2020: FAQ, projects.
Note: This story was originally published on Aug. 25 and was updated on Aug. 26.