Oklahoma City residents will vote Oct. 14 on a $2.7 billion bond issue that features almost a dozen propositions to finance infrastructure and community improvements across the 621 square-mile city.
The election is open to Oklahoma City residents only. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The proposed general obligation bonds would not raise property tax rates, city officials said, because they would replace bonds that are being retired. The average ad valorem tax rate of 16 mills would remain at the same service level.
In terms of property taxes,16 mills means that for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value, $16 in property tax is owed.
Approximately 14% of an Oklahoma City resident’s property tax goes to the City of Oklahoma City and the rest is divided among schools, the county, and other government entities. For example, the owner of a $150,000 house pays about $21 monthly for Oklahoma City’s portion of the property tax; the City uses the money to retire its bonds.
Oklahoma City has used bonds to fund its critical infrastructure since before statehood in 1907, records reflect.
“The 2025 bond issue continues our city’s longtime practice of dedicating resources to our essential infrastructure, like streets and bridges,” Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said. “This vote on Oct. 14 is about needs, not wants. This package continues that work, this time for core infrastructure. And it does so without raising the property tax rate.”
Voters will pass judgment on 11 fundamental categories of projects such as constructing or repaving streets, bridges, traffic control, sidewalks, parks and recreation, drainage upgrades and more.
Of the 547 projects in the 2025 bond issue, 76% are deemed by city officials to be critical infrastructure projects that meet basic neighborhood and community needs.
Construction on some of the projects will start about a year after the election, city officials said.
The bond package includes:
• $1.35 billion for 382 street projects.
Those would include repaving 184 arterial streets, resurfacing 133 residential streets, widening 27 streets, 25 sidewalk construction projects, and 13 street enhancement projects.
• $414.29 million for 31 parks and facilities projects and one trail.
Those would include improvements, renovations and/or expansion to the Hefner Golf Course clubhouse, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, the Bricktown Canal, Civic Center Music Hall, USA Softball Complex, RIVERSPORT Rapids/Regatta Park, Myriad Botanical Gardens, OKC Fair Park promenade connector and the multipurpose stadium (phase 2).
Also, improvements to Northwest Optimist Community Center, Will Rogers Senior Center and aquatic center, the dog park in South Lakes Park, McKinley Park event center, Northeast Community Center, and maintenance facilities.
Other projects would include improvements for Will Rogers Gardens, Martin Park Nature Center, H.B. Parsons Fish Hatchery, Trosper Golf Course, athletic fields at Wheeler Park, Earlywine Park, Route 66 Park, Kupper Softball Complex, athletic fields renovations citywide and youth center(s).
Funds also would be spent on development of Swisher Park and the Deep Fork Trail phases 2 and 3.
• $175 million for citywide economic development and affordable housing programs.
• $140.44 million for 44 drainage projects; the funds would be used to improve, construct, provide and equip the city’s drainage control facilities, including channel improvements, stormwater detention facilities, drainage maintenance equipment, materials, furnishings, and technology improvements.
• $130 million for seven fire department fire facilities and maintenance projects.
Those would include a new training center for fire and police crews; a new fleet storage facility at Southwest 15th Street and Portland Avenue; a new fire station in the vicinity of Northwest 10 Street and Morgan Road to serve Wards 1 and 3; a new fire station near Northeast 125th Street and Eastern Avenue; a new fire station near West Reno Avenue and Frisco Road; renovation of Fire Station #30 near Northwest Expressway and Meridian Avenue; plus renovations to other fire stations citywide.
• $129.67 million for three transit and parking projects: a new transit operations and maintenance headquarters facility; a new downtown parking garage to replace the Myriad Convention Center parking facility, along with pedestrian improvements connecting transit and parking facilities along or in the vicinity of E.K. Gaylord Boulevard between Sheridan and Reno avenues; and modernization of EMBARK’s transit fleet, including buses, associated equipment, and bus system facilities.
• $107.34 million for police, municipal courts and family justice facilities.
The four public safety projects would be a new police and court annex located north across Colcord Drive from OKCPD headquarters; a new police station in the west Oklahoma City, in the vicinity of Northwest 10th Street and Morgan Road, to serve Wards 1 and 3; a new parking garage for police, courts and visitors; and enhanced security, technology and training equipment at the new Family Justice Center operated by Palomar.
• $90.6 million for 25 bridge projects.
• $81 million for 25 intersection improvement projects, including new traffic signals and upgrades.
• $52.48 million for libraries and learning centers. Those projects would include exterior improvements to the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library; roof renovations at Patience Latting Northwest Library, Southwest OKC Library and Southern Oaks Library; expansion of the Ralph Elison Library; a new library located in west Oklahoma City; and the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center exhibit and archival space expansion.
• $47 million for 17 City maintenance, data, and service facilities and maintenance projects.
Water and sewer line projects are not included in general obligation bond issues such as the one Oklahoma City residents will vote on Oct. 14. That is because the Utilities Department, via the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, is fully funded by ratepayer revenues paid for utilities services provided to customers. Instead, the Utilities Department’s water and sewer projects are incorporated into its capital program and are planned investments that are part of the rate plans approved by the City Council.