‘A significant cost’: Edmond community weighs pros & cons of upcoming GO bond vote

EDMOND, Okla. ( KFOR ) — Edmond residents had the opportunity Thursday night to hear from both sides of a general obligation bond issue that is up for a vote in November.

The Edmond Neighborhood Alliance hosted a community meeting at the Mitch Park Senior Center Thursday night as an informational forum for all residents to consider.

The election, set for a November 5 vote, will ask Edmond voters to consider three general obligation bond questions. They surround streets, fire and park improvements that would come in at $231 million.

Under the terms of the 10-year obligation — $151 million would go towards street projects, $70 million to parks and $9 million to relocate and construct a new home for Edmond fire station 3. City fire officials have noted the current building is outdated and poorly equipped to handle plans for future growth.

The bond obligation, however, would see an impact on citizens tax dollars, facing a property tax hike totaling 14.3%. The city estimates the average citizen would see an increase of about $40 a month or $450 a year. This would impact all property within city limits.

“I think what this bond project is a way to address the future,” said supporter Todd Olberding during Thursday’s community meeting.

Olberding argued that city officials have had their hands tied when it comes to using general obligation bonds to fund expansion while other cities already utilize the effort successfully.

Olberding also expressed concern that putting the project off could do more harm in the future as prices for services and materials needed to make the improvements fluctuate.

“Some of these things only get more expensive with time,” said Olberding. “We’re just living in a town that is growing financially and we aren’t supporting it.”

News 4 heard from a majority of residents in attendance of Thursday’s meeting, who weighed in or asked questions, expressing mixed concerns and reservations.

“This is going to be a significant cost for the next 10 years,” said community advocate Lydia Lee.

Some argued why all of the projects needed to be put up for a vote at once. Others expressed reservations about the impact of the potential property tax hike on their fixed incomes as older citizens.

Another concern brought up tied to how the general obligation bond questions, that voters will be considering, are worded. All of them say they would require a property tax increase, but the language doesn’t note that the 14.3% increase would be in place regardless of if one passed and the others failed.

“That property tax is going to be the same, whether it’s one issue or all three,” said Lee.

Oklahoma County Assessor, Larry Stein, clarified that if fewer questions passed, the length of time it would take to pay off would be impacted.

“Depending on how many of these bond packages pass you could have them paid off a lot sooner,” said Stein.

If passed, the City of Edmond says it will be the first general obligation bond program it has had since 1980. If the program does not pass, city officials say improvement areas will be delayed until alternate funding is secured.

You can learn more about the 22 individually proposed projects here .

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