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What is Bixby’s Renewal for Roads?
On November 5, 2024, voters in the City of Bixby will have the opportunity to vote to extend the existing one-penny sales tax, first approved by voters in 1989 and previously renewed in 1994. At that time, Bixby citizens chose to support capital improvement projects through a dedicated revenue source. On November 5th, citizens will have a similar decision on extending the sunset date another 30 years (from 2024 to 2054) and reallocating the funds to help renew our roads.
View Sample Ballot
View Tax Extension Resolution
Key Initiatives
If approved, the extended sales tax funds, now called Renewal for Roads, could only be used in the ways specified by the voters – meaning, they will be dedicated entirely to the street, safety, and sewer projects approved by the City Council. If approved, this sales tax extension will continue to provide a dedicated fund for necessary CIPs, including:
- Streets - If approved, funds from the Renewal for Roads sales tax extension allocated for streets will be prioritized for neighborhood and arterial streets and bridges in need of work based on the results of a currently underway, city-wide pavement assessment. This source of funding could also be used to provide the necessary matching dollars for ODOT projects in the Memorial or 151st Street corridors.
- Capital Improvements - If approved, the Renewal for Roads sales tax extension will continue to provide a dedicated fund for capital improvements, including critical public safety projects and purchases.
- Sanitary Sewers - If approved, the Renewal for Roads sales tax extension will continue to provide a dedicated fund for sanitary sewer capital improvements, covering the debt service for the wastewater treatment plant. With the completion of the 1994 sales tax-funded projects, the renewal will allocate sufficient funds to cover debt service allocations on the new plant and future plant expansions.
Extending the existing one-penny sales tax will NOT raise taxes in Bixby. It would allow the City to continue funding the growth we’ve experienced since 1989 and will enable the city to better serve current and future residents and businesses.
How Does the Renewal for Roads Vote Affect Bixby?
Bixby’s general fund budget is almost entirely composed of local sales tax, and that fund has to support many of the city's operating expenses, including public works and public safety. This one-penny sales tax is the most significant source of revenue that is dedicated to the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) fund.
Today, Bixby's one-penny sales tax is dedicated to capital improvements (primarily public safety; 25%) and sewer system improvements (mainly debt service for the wastewater treatment plant; 75%). If the sales tax is extended under the Renewal for Roads plan, the City of Bixby will reorganize the allocation of the Capital Improvement Fund to include a dedicated funding source for streets (50%) and continue supporting capital improvements, including public safety (20%), and sewer system improvements and debt service for the wastewater treatment plant (30%).
How will my tax rate change if this extension passes?
$0 – this extension will not change the current tax rate. This will extend the sunset date on the existing sales tax rate by 30 years.
Make Your Voice Heard on November 5th, 2024
Public Meeting
The City of Bixby hosted one public meeting on October 10th to share details and answer questions about the Renewal for Roads sales tax extension on the ballot.
What happens if the one-penny sales tax expires?
If the one-penny sales tax is allowed to expire in November 2024, the City of Bixby will face an annual loss of $4.7 million. These funds are currently dedicated to capital investments and improvements and ongoing debt service for the wastewater treatment plant – debt that will exist with or without an extension of the sales tax. Given that the debt exists and cities do require capital improvements from time to time, the City of Bixby would be impacted in the following ways to fund those needs:
- Impact 1: Reallocate Public Safety Budgets
If the Renewal for Roads sales tax extension is not passed, Bixby’s public safety (police and fire) departments will have to reallocate funds away from other public safety budget items/initiatives and toward necessary capital improvements (cars, ambulances, computers, etc.).
- Impact 2: Utility Rate Increases
If the Renewal for Roads sales tax extension is not passed, utility customers may have to pay a 60% rate increase to fund the debt service.
As a community, Bixby voters will have the opportunity to approve the Renewal for Roads sales tax extension to support critical infrastructure and capital improvements.