A 2008 Oklahoma law authorizing $25 million of state bonds to repair a city-owned low-water dam on the Arkansas River at Tulsa would be revoked by a bill proposed by a state senator who opposed the original legislation.
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, said he filed Senate Bill 799 to stop any future attempt by dam supporters to revive the project.
The Tulsa River Parks Authority wanted the bond proceeds for a project to provide more land for a city park by raising the water level in Zink Lake.
The bonds would have been issued by the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority.
Oklahoma Supreme Court justices ruled in late November 2012 that the 2008 act was unconstitutional because the bonds did not fund a statewide interest.
The court called the proposed bonds “nothing more than a gift to the city of Tulsa and surrounding communities from the state.”
Anderson has proposed a statewide election on a proposal to issue $100 million of state general obligation bonds for municipal infrastructure projects.
The proposed general obligation bonds would be supported by dedicating a 0.25% portion of the current state sales tax generated within the participating cities.
Cities with less than 125,000 residents would not be eligible for bond projects, and no city could receive more than $10 million.
The population limit would exclude Oklahoma City and Tulsa, whichare the two largest cities in the state, from the proceeds.
