Oklahoma School Bonds See Mixed Results in Tuesday Election

Oklahoma School Bonds See Mixed Results as Voters Decide Local Tax Proposals

Voters across Oklahoma decided a wide range of school bond issues and local tax proposals Tuesday, approving major projects in some communities while rejecting others — including a proposal to build what supporters said would have been the nation’s first 3-D printed concrete school.

School propositions passed in Bartlesville, Noble and Fletcher, while voters rejected school bonds in Dale, Little Axe, Minco, Newcastle and Sallisaw. Several cities and counties also decided sales taxes, infrastructure bonds and other local funding measures.

Oklahoma School Bonds Bring Wins and Losses Across State

One of the largest successful proposals came in Noble Public Schools, where voters narrowly approved an $89.9 million school bond package.

The package will fund a new school for fifth- and sixth-grade students, a new high school fine arts center, classroom additions at two elementary schools and athletic improvements. District officials said the bond is not expected to increase property taxes and could result in a lower millage rate.

Bartlesville Public Schools voters also approved a nearly $41 million bond package. Projects include reconfiguring the middle school entrance, expanding high school weight room facilities and constructing an extracurricular annex for band rehearsals and activity competitions.

Several other districts were unsuccessful.

Newcastle Public Schools failed to reach the 60% approval required for a $15 million bond that would have funded an elementary school storm shelter, track and field improvements, soccer locker rooms and additional classroom space for the district’s aviation program.

Little Axe Public Schools voters rejected a $3.7 million package for a new elementary HVAC system, high school gym flooring and 11 school buses.

One of Tuesday’s most unusual proposals came from Savanna Public Schools, where officials wanted to replace the district’s nearly 90-year-old elementary school with what was planned as the first 3-D printed concrete school building in the United States.

The proposal received approximately 55% support, but Oklahoma school bonds require 60% approval, causing the measure to fail.

City Tax and Bond Proposals Decided by Oklahoma Voters

Local infrastructure and public safety projects were also on ballots around the state.

Bixby voters narrowly approved a general obligation bond package for projects including a new fire station, animal shelter, road resurfacing and wastewater system expansion.

In Blanchard, voters renewed the city’s longstanding 1% sales tax. City officials say future revenue could help pay for a new animal shelter, multipurpose community building and storm shelter, along with public safety vehicles and equipment.

Choctaw voters, however, rejected a proposed three-quarter-cent sales tax that supporters said would have helped finance a new YMCA building, police station and improvements to a city fire station.

Del City voters narrowly approved a $3 million general obligation bond for public safety improvements, including new vehicles and an upgraded outdoor warning system.

In Enid, voters approved an increase in the city’s hotel and motel tax from 8% to 12%. Supporters project the change could generate approximately $700,000 in additional annual revenue for eligible tourism projects.

Tahlequah voters approved a half-cent sales tax supporting 12 capital improvement projects but rejected a separate permanent quarter-cent sales tax for the city’s general fund and other municipal needs.

Voters in The Village faced 13 propositions, approving nine and rejecting four.

County Sales Taxes Also Win Approval

County-level proposals produced additional tax changes Tuesday.

Creek County voters narrowly approved a one-third-cent sales tax to support road and bridge maintenance and help pay county debt. The extension will remain in place permanently.

In northeastern Oklahoma, Ottawa County voters overwhelmingly approved a one-cent sales tax increase scheduled to remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2042.

Revenue from that tax will be used to address a federal civil rights judgment involving the 2015 death of Terral Ellis in the Ottawa County Jail. A federal jury previously awarded Ellis' family $33 million in the case.

Across Oklahoma, Tuesday’s results demonstrated the higher hurdle faced by school districts seeking voter approval. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, school district indebtedness generally requires approval from three-fifths of voters, meaning a school bond can receive a majority of votes and still fail.

That was the case in Savanna, where more voters supported the proposed new elementary school than opposed it — but the proposal still fell short of the 60% required for passage.

Official results from Tuesday’s elections are available through the Oklahoma State Election Board.

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