2021 Bond

Bonds for schools are voter-approved funds that can be used for school facilities and other essential school needs. The district sells bonds to investors who will be paid back over time with funds raised through property taxes. School bonds begin with a general election to authorize a specific amount for projects detailed on the ballot.

Proceeds from school bonds can be used for capital expenditures including the remodeling and repair of existing school facilities, construction of building projects like classrooms, stadiums, and libraries, as well as acquisition of land.  Funds can also be used for the purchase of buses, equipment, and materials including textbooks, computers, technology infrastructure, musical instruments, science materials, and other classroom resources.

No. By law, bonds cannot be used for teacher salaries or recurring expenses such as utilities and operations. Bonds are earmarked for one-time costs such as school facilities, capital improvements, instructional materials, and transportation.

The average age of our buildings is 61 years; 60% are more than 50 years old, and 19% are older than 80 years. As structures continue to age, the cost for operations and maintenance increases. Building infrastructures also age, so many are in need of not just repair, but often full system replacement.

Historically, with limited state funding and resources, general building renovation and repair has been vastly underfunded; we are always playing “catch up.” Starting with the 1996 bond, we have leveraged bond funds to supplement state funding, investing in school maintenance and major renovation.

The Citizens Bond Oversight Committee approved five changes to the 2015 Bond: two of those were due to action by the Tulsa Board of Education related to school closings and consolidations. This chart shows the projects and amounts involved, the event that triggered the changes, and where the funds were reassigned after committee discussion and consideration. Changes to bonds are subject to two rounds of approvals; the first comes from the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee and the second comes from the Tulsa Board of Education. Student safety continues to be a priority with changes to fund secure entries and HVAC/air quality improvements.

The proposed 2021 Bond will not increase your tax rate. Tulsa Public Schools knows that taking care of taxpayer dollars is important so the bond package is designed to keep your property tax rate level. 

Note:  If the value of your home changes over the next five years, your property tax amount may change accordingly. Tulsa Public Schools currently has a tax rate comparable or lower than many surrounding school districts.

A Citizens Bond Development Committee, composed of thirty-six community members, worked with multiple district teams throughout 2020 to identify and prioritize high-impact projects that would equitably support students and school communities throughout the next five years.  The committee and subcommittees worked with subject area experts in development of all four propositions. 

In the event that Tulsans approve the 2021 Bond, a Citizens Bond Oversight Committee will be appointed by the Tulsa Board of Education to monitor the progress of the district’s bond program for the next five years, ensuring that the taxpayer dollars are expended as dictated by the bond project list and are managed in the most efficient manner possible.

A super majority requires that 60% of the people vote favorably in the election as opposed to a “simple majority” of 50% plus one vote.

The Citizen Bond Development Committee included items in the bond that are considered necessary to ensure all Tulsa’s students have the best possible resources and are learning in safe, comfortable, and accessible buildings. The four bond propositions are designed to address building repairs, learning materials, technology and transportation.  If one or more propositions fails, the projects it contains will not move forward.  The district and school will need to make hard choices of what to buy, replace or repair with limited funds.

State and federal funds do not cover all the resources and equipment we need to provide for our students.  For example, the district receives only $50 per pupil for textbooks, print and digital curriculum materials from the state.  That is about half the cost of a typical textbook.  The building fund does not cover the needs of our aging buildings, so roofs, plumbing, and HVAC units, etc., would eventually fall into disrepair.  Buses would not be replaced and would begin to fail.  Difficult decisions would need to be made as to what critical items to pay for with scarce general funds, the same general funds that pay teacher salaries. 

Great schools are the heart of thriving communities and cities. Young people are our future workforce, homeowners, and taxpayers, and our schools prepare these young leaders to be successful in college, careers, and life. When a community invests in its schools, it is investing in a stronger, brighter future for all Tulsans. That same investment in schools also keeps neighborhoods vital, safe, and attractive, while increasing property values. 

If you have ever had children in public school or were a public school student yourself, people before you helped to fund the schools you and/or your child(ren) attended. Likewise, when current Tulsa residents help pay for the schools we have now, they are investing in the future. As new residents move into our district, they assume these taxes as well. Regardless of where you live in Oklahoma, your property taxes will help fund schools in that area.

For additional questions, you can email Ellen Duecker at dueckel@tulsaschools.org.