Will any of this money be used to do projects like the Preventative Street Maintenance project that was done last summer?
No. The preventative street project in question involved crack sealing, application of aggregate chip seal, application of HA5 and striping on some of the city’s most heavily-traveled roads. While the process, called a Bonded Matrix Overlay (BMO) or Cape Seal, has been used extensively in other areas of the country, it had not been used locally before last summer.
The purpose of the BMO, and even HA5 on its own, is to extend the life of the roadway, saving taxpayers money in the long-term, not necessarily to improve the ride or appearance of the road surface. While the BMO will do what it was intended to do, neither the public nor City staff were satisfied with the chip seal portion of the process or the appearance of the final result due to the chip seal. We are satisfied with the HA5 used without the chip seal that was applied on Johnstone between Fourth and Fifth streets as a test case for future use on other low speed areas such as residential streets.
The treated roads will last longer at a lower cost than other methods, but due to the above reasons, the City will not do a project using the chip seal like the previous one again.
It is important to note that Preventative Street Maintenance projects extend the life of the road and provide greater cost efficiency for residents. For these reasons, they are a great use of taxpayer funds and are important for keeping our city streets in the best condition possible.
Where are you hiding that?
I keep seeing comments on Facebook by someone who is claiming the City is not making documents available showing things like “cumulative costs, projected obligations and measurable outcomes over time” regarding the issuance of bonds. Can you explain what this person is asking for and where can we access these documents?
We can’t explain what this person is asking for because these terms, which appear to be generated by AI, are not used when referring to City finances. However, all data relating to City finances is in the City’s Operating and Capital Budgets, which can be viewed on the City’s website. Budgets (and audits) going as far back as the mid-2000s are archived and can be accessed on this page: www.cityofbartlesville.org. We understand this is a lot of pages to peruse, so we suggest starting with the Financial Summary. If you need assistance, feel free to contact us.
And, though quite a bit less official, general information can also be found by searching “budget” or “capital” on the City’s website, or even in previous editions of City Beat.
Why are the projects proposed in the upcoming bond election not in the City’s current budget document?
The City cannot appropriate funds or develop a budget for debt that has not been authorized.
Why are you doing it this way?
I don’t believe in bonds or taxes. Why can’t you fund these projects and economic development some other way?
State law prohibits municipalities in Oklahoma from funding projects any other way. Bonds and sales tax are literally the only options a municipality in Oklahoma has to fund capital expenses. Also, municipalities are limited in the ways they can access their share of property tax, with judgements against the city and the issuance of G.O. Bonds being the only options.
Why can’t we “pay as we go?”
The City typically budgets somewhere between $1 million and $2 million for capital projects annually from General Fund expenditures. At that rate, it would take 15-20 years to have enough money on hand to complete the projects proposed in the upcoming election alone.
New projects, old programs
Do other cities in Oklahoma use bond funding for capital projects?
Yes, they do. There is nothing new or unusual about what is being proposed. The City, and other cities in Oklahoma, have utilized these programs for decades.
One more time for the people in the back
Will approval of any of this increase my taxes?
No. Approval of these funding mechanisms will not result in an increase in taxes. G.O. bonds are funded through ad valorem, or property taxes, which are paid by Bartlesville property owners. The City’s mill levy would remain at 15 with approval of the bond Issue, which would have no impact on ad valorem taxes. The 1/2-Cent CIP Sales Tax and 1/4-cent Economic Development Sales Tax are both existing taxes. Approval would simply extend both taxes another five years.
For more FAQs, see www.cityofbartlesville.org or City Beat January 22, 2026.