By Ben Morgan and FOX23.com News Staff
In two weeks, Broken Arrow City Councilors will vote on what’s included in the city’s more than $400 million bond package.
City officials said the bond has been in development for at least two years. The projects span a wide range of needs including infrastructure, public safety, entertainment, and other quality-of-life improvements.
FOX23 spoke with community members and local business owners in the area who said they’re optimistic about what the bond could mean for their city.
“There’s not one that stands out,” said Secret Garden Candle Company Owner Michelle Everett. “I think each of them play their own part and contribute vital growth, development, funds and just a better community and way of life.”
The proposed $415 million bond would be the city’s largest since 2018.
“We’re a growing community. We’re at the highest population we’ve ever been,” explained Charlie Bright, the Director of Engineering and Construction for the City of Broken Arrow. “There’s obviously a lot of requests for development. People are moving into our city at a high rate and so this is trying to keep up with the growth we have and provide the quality of community and the quality of services that our citizens expect.”
The bond package includes eight propositions and a total of 81 projects. They cover transportation, public safety, quality of life improvements, public facilities, stormwater and drainage upgrades, a new Tulsa City-County Library branch and improvements to sports facilities.
Everett said all eight propositions are important.
“I think each one holds a specific duty with those funds to better the city, the citizens, the community and even visitors. It will also help the roads. It will help the stormwater drainage. It will help sewer [and] better transportation.”
Other Broken Arrow residents, including Miriam Bryant, said they’re glad to see significant funding directed toward public safety and senior services.
Bryant explained, “There’s stuff for the senior center to help contribute to those activities that they’ve been having and that is something that, in my view, we have to take care of our elders.”
If passed, this would be the largest bond in Broken Arrow’s history. Both residents and City leaders said they hope councilors vote yes and move the package forward.
“As our leadership often says, we were voted as the 12th best city in this country and the number one city in the state for living, working and raising your family,” said Bright. “I think it’s important that we provide that kind of quality of life for our citizens.”
Broken Arrow residents and nonresidents can provide input on the bond package through an online survey available until the Broken Arrow City Council votes on Dec. 16.
Whatever city councilors approve will go before voters in April.
You can read more about each proposition on the City of Broken Arrow’s website here before filling out the online survey here.
