By John Dobberstein, Editor
With a few small changes, the Broken Arrow City Council approved the final list of projects to be voted on in the city’s $415 million 2026 general obligation bond election.
The “Build Our Future BA” projects include 8 propositions, with only one — for sports facilities improvements — requesting a sales tax increase. The other propositions will not increase property taxes if voters approve them in April.
The overall list of propositions and their allocation toward the total package includes:
- Proposition 1: $205 million (49.6%) to transportation projects
- Proposition 2: $56 million (13.5%) to public safety projects
- Proposition 3: $74 million (17.6%) for quality-of-life projects
- Proposition 4: $65 million (15.7%) to public facilities
- Proposition 5: $6 million (1.5%) to stormwater
- Proposition 6: allocates $5 million (1.2%) to drainage projects
- Proposition 7: provides $4 million for a new south Broken Arrow library in partnership with Tulsa City-County Library
Funds for the projects named in propositions 1-7 would be raised over 10-12 years.
Major street work planned
Addressing complaints from motorists about bottlenecks in certain parts of Broken Arrow, there is $96 million allocated in the package for widening projects.
That includes $15.6 million to widen Tucson Street from Olive Avenue to Aspen; $11.9 million to widen New Orleans Street from Garnett Road to Olive; $11.5 million to widen Olive from New Orleans Street to the Creek Turnpike, and $9 million for widening Omaha Street from Aspen to Elm.
Another $37 million is planned for intersection work, especially along the southern stretch of County Line Road from Jasper to Washington streets where intense residential development is happening.
Some $25 million is slated for residential street rehabilitation, and $4 million to $5 million is allocated for trail and sidewalk connectivity projects, improvements in signalization, “Innovation Bridge” and utility relocation for New Orleans Square.
Public safety infrastructure targeted
Public safety needs in Broken Arrow are continually growing as the 63-square-mile city continues to add homes and businesses and expand south and east.
Proposition 2’s big-ticket item is $18 million for fire trucks, and $10 million for a new fire station on the southeast side of Broken Arrow. Some $3 million is requested for animal shelter expansion and renovation, and more than $8 million is listed for classroom addition, drainage improvements, perimeter security and outdoor firing range improvements for the Public Safety Training Center.
Addition money would go toward outdoor warning system improvements, fire equipment and radio communication upgrades.
New recreational options
Of the $74 million requested for Proposition 3, $50 million — or 67% — of the funds would be earmarked for Elam Park, including a community center ($30 million) and other unspecified site improvements ($14 million) for the park.
Additional funds would be targeted for shade structures at parks, upgrades to Battle Creek Golf Course, pool equipment upgrades at two aquatic centers, playground equipment upgrades and a new dog park.
Expanding Rose District attractions
Proposition 4 would see a major upgrade in public facilities, including several in the Rose District downtown.
Major funds would be put toward an addition for the Senior Center ($18 million), Rose District Plaza expansion ($10 million); Military History Center expansion ($9 million), and fine arts projects, including expansion of Arts@302 ($7.5 million) and The Museum Broken Arrow ($5 million).
Other big-ticket items would be an operations center and vehicle storage building($6.4 million) and $5.5 million for fiber optic network ring infrastructure.
Handling water
Propositions 5 and 6 are much smaller in scope and target money for drainage and stormwater improvements. The areas listed for stormwater upgrades include downtown, Elgin Street and or Iola Street, drainage pond improvements at Madison and Birch, and Aspen Avenue; Creek channel improvements at various parks, and a Haikey Creek tributary master plan study.
Drainage improvements would target the Adams Creek, Haikey Creek, Broken Arrow and Elm and Aspen basins.
Boosting the library
Improvements to the South Broken Arrow Library have been discussed for a few years, as the city’s needs have grown since the branch was first constructed.
Proposition 7, if approved, would allocate $4 million toward improvements at the library, and improvements would happen in partnership with the Tulsa City-County Library System.
Better sport facilities
Proposition 8 includes a temporary 0.5% sales tax increase for major sports facility improvements, with design starting in spring 2026 and construction beginning about a year later. The sales tax would expire after 5 years.
City staff estimate the sports facilities improvements could generate roughly $50 million or more over 5 years depending on retail growth. The improvements would affect girls’ softball, youth baseball, youth soccer, youth football and lacrosse, and adult softball.
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