The Tulsa City Council is expected to decide on competing proposals to upgrade the city’s streets by Aug. 7, and could set an election for Nov. 4 for the winning plan.
Councilor Bill Martinson has proposed and Mayor Kathy Taylor has endorsed a comprehensive 12-year, $2 billion street maintenance plan that would be financed in part with $770 million of general obligation bonds.
Martinson’s plan includes $120 million in discretionary funds and $281 million to maintain city buildings, buy buses and firefighting equipment, and upgrade telecommunications. The program would be financed by extensions of three existing sales taxes and increased property tax.
Councilor Bill Christiansen has countered with a less-ambitious five-year plan costing $270 million that focuses on paving maintenance. The smaller plan includes $160 million of GO bonds and extensions of two sales taxes.
