Tulsa County voters say ' no' to a library bond proposal

There will not be a new downtown library in Tulsa, at least for now. This after Tulsa County voters closed the book on library improvement plans. <br/><br/>Voters on Tuesday defeated two library propositions,

Tuesday, December 14th 2004, 8:56 pm

By: News On 6

There will not be a new downtown library in Tulsa, at least for now. This after Tulsa County voters closed the book on library improvement plans.

Voters on Tuesday defeated two library propositions, including a $79-million bond issue to build a new central library, add three new branches and make improvements to all the others. From the beginning, the Library bond proposal has been controversial.

And now that the proposal failed, there are questions over the Library Commission's decision to have the bond voted on separately.

The library bond proposal was originally part of Tulsa's Vision 2025 plan, but the Library Commission opted out of the plan, because everything they wanted for the library wasn't in the deal. There were also concerns by commissioners the plan would fail.

The commission also had a chance to put the issue on the November general election ballot. Instead, it chose to hold a separate county election. By holding a separate election, the commission could ask for everything they wanted including a brand new central library with adequate parking space. The lack of parking is a major problem at the current library.

In the end, county tax payers decided against the proposal.

And there was another election of note in Tulsa County, this one in Jenks. Voters there narrowly defeated a $14.6-million bond for a new football complex and other capital improvements.

Voters also narrowly defeated a transportation bond. Bonds need 60% or more to pass.

--

Tulsa County

Proposition 1
.8 Mill - Library Improvements
For: 43%
Against: 57%

Proposition 2
$79,100,000 Bond Issue - Library Improvements
For: 43%
Against: 57%

Jenks Schools
$14,650,000 Bond Issue - Football Complex/Capital Improvements-required 60%
For: 58%
Against: 42%

Jenks Schools
$600,000 Bond Issue â€“ Transportation- required 60%
For: 59%
Against: 41%