Broken Arrow is two weeks away from residents voting on a $210 million general obligation bond package.
In a news conference Tuesday, representatives of Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce, Broken Arrow Public Schools, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10887, Broken Arrow Seniors and Indian Nations Football Conference asked for voters' support of the bonds.
Build A Better Broken Arrow Committee Chairman Russell Peterson said the six propositions have the potential to spur even more growth for the city.
"This bond issue certainly has the potential for economic impact that — I can’t think of another bond issue or another thing we’ve done in town until you get back to the Broken Arrow Expressway, which, to me, is probably the No. 1 event in the city’s history in how we’re shaping up to be," Peterson said.
About two-thirds of the Build Our Future package is dedicated to a $142.6 million proposition for transportation projects like road widening, but other propositions deal with public safety, parks and recreation, public facilities, stormwater, and drainage.
Peterson said that mix was reached through extensive public input and is important.
"You could’ve just done nothing but streets, but the thought was that you needed this balance to your community or you’d get to the point where you have all these lovely streets and then nothing to do and nowhere to go to," Peterson said.
An Armed Forces Meeting Hall is included in the $16.8 million public facilities proposition. VFW Broken Arrow Post Commander Ralph Pointer said it will be a place veterans can gather and be connected with services or just someone who understands what they’re going through.
"That’s the key to getting back into civilian life is being able to talk and express yourself and what are your problems. Everybody comes back — whether they’re pushing paper in California or overseas in Afghanistan — they come back with a mind change," Pointer said.
Five of the six propositions that will be on the August 28th ballot require simple majorities to pass, while one for drainage projects requires 60 percent of votes. Officials say the bond package will maintain current tax rates.
