UPDATE, 10/11/23: According to unofficial election results published by the Oklahoma State Election Board, Norman voters approved the 10/10/23 proposition with 57.61% of the vote.
Passage of the Bridge By Bridge proposition would provide essential funding to replace, repair and rehabilitate up to 18 bridges in Norman. The City of Norman is solely responsible for the maintenance of 80 bridges, with a quarter being constructed prior to 1950. Election Day is October 10, 2023.
There is currently no sustainable or consistent funding source for bridge replacement or major rehabilitation in our community. City Council began discussions regarding a Bridge Maintenance Bond Program in Fall 2022. After a series of public presentations and research completed in July 2023, direction to pursue an October 2023 vote of the people regarding a 10-year, $50 million program was given to staff. If approved by voters, work would begin in 2024. The proposal also includes a contingency of funding to allow for unexpected changes in priority or emergencies within the city’s bridge inventory.
Projects were compiled using detailed bridge inspection data completed by a third party engineering firm. By federal law, each of the City’s 80 bridges receive a detailed inspection and evaluation every two years. Proposed monthly property tax increases for the 10-year program vary by home value; general estimates entail $2.44 for a $100,000 home, $5.10 for a $200,000 home, and $7.75 for a $300,000 home. The proposed tax change would be in place for a minimum of 20 years if the program is approved by Norman voters.
Norman City Council set this proposition to go to a vote of the people during a public meeting on August 8, 2023. It will appear on a ballot for Norman voters on October 10, 2023. The deadline to register to vote to cast a ballot in this election is September 15; the deadline to request an absentee ballot is September 25; and Early Voting will take place October 5 and 6. To learn more about the voting process, contact the Cleveland County Election Board or Oklahoma State Election Board.