Green Country Communities To Vote On Bond Issues Tuesday

Tara Vreeland, News On 6

UNDATED -- Tuesday, voters in two green country communities will head to the polls to vote on millions of dollars in bond issues.

A Broken Arrow school bond issue will reallocate funds from a previous ballot. And an Owasso bond issue has three propositions asking for taxpayer money.

Broken Arrow is asking permission to reallocate $73.5 million from a 2009 bond issue. Voters will only see one question on the ballot.

The proposed bond will fund projects for new pre-k and childhood development centers. The money will also improve elementary schools. The 2009 Bond proposed getting rid of portable classrooms, something the new bond hopes to continue.

The district also wants to build Indian Springs Elementary a new school, instead of remodeling the current buildings which sit on a flood plain. A track and other athletic improvements are included for the high school.

"This bond issue, if it does pass tomorrow, it will not raise our patron's school taxes. It will not ask for any new money. Simply taking what was already approved in 2009 and changing a portion of that," said Tara Thompson of Broken Arrow Schools.

A 60 percent majority is required to pass Broken Arrow's Bond issue.

Owasso's city officials say its bond will add additional tax. The city says it took a quality of life survey and found people want to see more than just infrastructure upgrades.

09/22/2011 Related Story: Owasso $25 Million Tax Proposal Draws Supporters, Skeptics

"Families are frustrated they have to go out of town to recreate with their children," said Juliann Stevens, Administrative Assistant for City of Owasso.

The first proposition on Owasso's ballot asks for $11 million in funding for a soccer complex and improvements to the baseball and softball fields.

Proposition 2 aims for road improvements -- $5 million to widen the street between Highway 169 to 129th East Avenue, and from Garnett from 96th to 106th Street North.

The third proposition, if approved, would put $9 million into an aquatics center, a festival park or farmer's market, and improve city parks.

Not everyone thinks these projects should be funded by new taxpayer money.

"Everybody thinks we are opposed to the projects. It's the funding source that we are opposed to," said Chuck Wichmann, Co chair of the Owasso Taxpayer Alliance.

The polls will open at 7:00 Tuesday morning.