Broken Arrow City Council Approves Special Election For Bond Package

The city of Broken Arrow voted Monday evening to approve a special election that will allow voters to decide on a number of bond issues.

The City Clerk's office is filing a notice of special election with the Tulsa County Election Board, a news release says; the special election was voted to be held on August 26th, 2014.

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"The City appreciates the foresight that Broken Arrow citizens have had in looking toward the future by approving bond projects," said Mayor Craig Thurmond. "Moving forward with the 2014 bond is one of the best ways the City can continue to stay ahead of the curve, through providing a high quality of life and creating opportunities for economic development and job growth."

The list for the special election includes:

• Authorization for a $59,935,000 in new bond issuances for streets, public safety, public buildings in quality of life projects.
  
  
• Repurpose the previously approved 2004 bond authorization of $5,855,000 for a hotel/conference center.
  
  
• Repurpose the previously approved 2008 bond authorization of $1,400,000 for an arts center.
  
  
• Increase the itinerant guest (hotel occupancy) tax to seven percent.

"I think the list is a very good list and indicative of the needs of Broken Arrow," said Vice Mayor Richard Carter. "These projects will help maintain a high quality of life, and I encourage residents to vote yes on August 26."

6/9/2014 Related Story: Broken Arrow City Council To Consider Putting Bond Package On Ballot

Broken Arrow recently became one of Oklahoma's largest cities. The news release says by increasing the City's occupancy rate to match Tulsa's proposed increase will enable the City to be competitive.

Broken Arrow's current hotel occupancy tax is four percent. If the increase is approved, the release says, the additional revenue will help fund the City's History Museum, Military Museum and a planned Creative Arts Center in the Rose District. They say it will also support economic development through the proposed Conference Center.

You can get more details for the projects online.