While Tulsa families head off for their summer vacations,  a tiny percentage of eligible voters will decide the fate of a $414,000,000.00 property tax increase for Tulsa Public Schools on June 8.

The gigantic proposed bond issue is getting disproportionate support from the Oklahoma Education Association, the Tulsa news media and most Democrats. The only announced opposition is from the Tulsa County Republican Party’s Facebook page.

The property tax increase has been endorsed by the liberal Tulsa World and the Tulsa Beacon has come out against the vote because it is ill-timed, it is too large to be manageable and it raises taxes.

The Tulsa Public School board wants to borrow $414,000,000.00 in bonds for four propositions. If approved, the term of the bonds would be five years, or an average of more than $80,000,000.00 a year without adding the cost of interest on the bonds. They would be paid by an increase in property taxes within the district.

“Every student and every school in our district will benefit from the investments in the 2021 Bond for Tulsa Public School,” said Superintendent Deborah Gist.

Historically, bonds packages were much smaller and were used for “bricks and mortar.” Now, public school districts are allowed to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars for buses, textbooks and other items that used to be paid for by the general operating budget.

Proposition 1, at a cost of $166,700,000.00 would pay for parking lot resurfacing at 60 schools and other buildings. It would finance sidewalk and walkway replacement and it would add exterior LED lighting to enhance schools safety.

Projects in Proposition 1 are:

  • $7,000,000.00 for parking lots
  • $44,000,000.00 for interior renovations
  • $18,300,000.00 for kitchen and dining rooms
  • $3,900,000.00 for air quality projects
  • $14,700,000.00 for Americans Disabilities Act improvements
  • $7,500,000.00 for new furniture
  • $15,600,000.00 for roofs
  • $8,000,000.00 for maintenance issues
  • $17,200,000.00 for miscellaneous expenses.

Proposition 2 would cost $90,700,000.00 and focus on technology, replacement of school marquees, computer networks and other projects.

Projects in Proposition 2 are:

  • $54,700,000.00 for computing devices for all students, teachers and staff plus interactive display boards, etc.
  • $31,400,000.00 for computer networks and Internet-based subscription services.
  • $1,900,000.00 for digital marquees for every school.
  • $2,700,000.00 for classroom technology

Proposition 3, at a cost of $17,300,000.00, is centered on transportation.

The Proposition 3 projects are:

  • $1,200,000.00 for small buses for secondary schools
  • $1,100,000.00 for software cameras
  • $400,000.00 for management fees, etc.
  • $7,800,000.00 for bus replacements
  • $6,800,000.00 for parts for buses and other vehicles

Proposition 4 will cost taxpayers $139,300,000.00 for learning materials.

Proposition 4 includes:

  • $8,800,000.00 for libraries
  • $11,500,000.00 for STEM
  • $1,000,000.00 for Greenwood Rising materials
  • $19,900,000.00 for college and career-ready graduates
  • $25,000,000.00 for wellness education and physical education
  • $2,700,000.00 for new outdoor playgrounds for elementary schools
  • $3,500,000.00 for professional learning for teachers
  • $29,900,000.00 for textbooks
  • $1,200,000.00 for special needs students
  • $8,000,000.00 for foreign language instruction
  • $12,100,000.00 miscellaneous projects for every school
  • $9,600,000.00 for fine arts and auditorium upgrades and a new band room at Webster High School
  • $2,700,000.00 new printers for all schools
  • $3,500,000.00 other projects