Voters to consider $12M for streets, $2.1M for parks
It’s almost official: Bartlesville voters will likely be asked to consider approval of $17.6 million in project funding — $12 million of it for streets — in a General Obligation Bond Election on Oct. 10.
During a meeting held June 5, the Bartlesville City Council approved proposed projects for voter consideration in the upcoming bond election. The projects were recommended by City staff based on input from the City’s citizen-driven boards and committees, council input and requests from citizens.
“GO bond funding is one of the very few options we have for funding capital projects,” said City Manager Mike Bailey. “GO bond elections are typically held every three to five years in an effort to provide funding for the projects that make our City functional and economically viable. This is an important source of funding for us, in addition to the Half-cent Capital Improvement Projects funds that are approved by voters every five years.”
Approval of the funding in October will not result in a tax increase, Bailey said.
“The City’s mil levy will remain at 15 as existing bonds expire, so there is no tax increase associated with the G.O. Bond proposal,” he said.
Voters will be asked to consider approving $12,035,000 for streets, $3,049,000 for building and facilities, $2,170,000 for parks and recreation.
Projects proposed for council consideration in June include:
- Multiple street projects including portions of Adams Boulevard, Silver Lake Road, Jefferson Road, Lupa, Rockdale, Cherokee, Lahoma, Michigan, Southview, Swan Drive, Avondale, Spruce, Greystone, Rice Creek road, Valley and Denver, and Georgetown
- A new fire station No. 2 at Hensley Boulevard and Virginia Avenue
- Improvements to Pathfinder Parkway
- Security lighting in City-owned parks
- Wayfinding signs
- Douglass Park playground shade structure
- Adams Golf Course greens rebuild
- Hudson Lake restrooms
- Jo Allyn Lowe drainage improvements and trail lights
To see a full list of the projects, see 2023 GO Bond projects.
If approved by voters, the $17.6 million bond issue will include funding for the projects over a four-year time period. The council is expected to officially call for the election during a meeting in July.
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Photo courtesy of Katarzyna Bialasiewicz via iStock.
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