The district needs new transportation vehicles because many of the current buses are nearing the end of their service life. The six new buses will replace four 18 year old buses and two 21 year old buses. 

Older buses are more prone to mechanical issues, higher maintenance costs, and breakdowns. Replacing them with modern vehicles improves safety, reliability, and efficiency, ensuring students can get to and from school and activities dependably every day.

Marlow Public Schools did not delay replacing buses until they became outdated. Historically, the district has used existing funds to purchase new buses every few years, which is why more than half of the current fleet is less than 10 years old. However, since the last bus purchase in 2020, the district’s operating budget has been significantly impacted by rising costs. For example, property insurance has increased by nearly $325,000 over the past four years alone, making it increasingly difficult to continue purchasing buses through existing funds. Despite these challenges, the district purchased a new special education bus in 2025 and a new truck for the agriculture program. The cost of buses has also risen sharply, with the last yellow buses purchased in 2020 costing $85,500 each, compared to approximately $145,000 for the same bus today.

The 2026 Transportation Bond is a $1 million proposal. Below is a cost breakdown:

• Six standard yellow school buses – approximately $150,000 each
• Two 14-person student transportation vehicles – aproximately $100,000

Yes. The bond would be funded through a 1.37% property tax increase, so it would result in a small increase to property taxes for residents within the Marlow Public Schools district.

To help illustrate what that looks like, here are examples based on current yearly property tax payments:

• If you currently pay $100 per year, the increase would be about $1.37 more per year.
• If you currently pay $500 per year, the increase would be about $6.85 more per year.
• If you currently pay $1000 per year, the increase would be about $13.69 more per year.

To find your specific increase, multiply your current annual tax amount by 0.0137.

The transportation bond proposed in August 2024 requested a smaller amount based on the district’s bonding capacity at that time and the cost of buses. The 2024 bond sought $730,000 and would have resulted in a 2.5% tax increase, but was not approved by voters. The current bond proposal seeks $1 million, which reflects the rising cost of school buses and the full scope of Marlow Public Schools’ current transportation needs. Due to an increase in the district’s bonding capacity, the projected tax increase for this bond is actually lower, at 1.37%.

In February 2022, Marlow Public Schools passed a construction bond to build two safe rooms, a wrestling facility, a high school building, a fieldhouse, and a performing arts center. State law strictly limits bond spending to the specific purposes approved by voters. As a result, it would have been illegal to use the 2022 bond funds to purchase school buses, since transportation was not included in that bond proposal.

In Oklahoma, school bond funds are strictly limited by law and can only be spent on specific projects that voters approve on the ballot. This means districts cannot use bond money for salaries, utilities, routine maintenance, or day-to-day operating costs. Bond funds may only be used for long-term investments such as constructing or renovating facilities, purchasing equipment, or acquiring school transportation vehicles.

For a transportation bond, like the one proposed by Marlow Public Schools, funds can only be used to purchase or equip student transportation vehicles—such as school buses or passenger vans—and cannot be redirected to other projects or operational expenses. The district is legally required to spend bond dollars exactly as outlined in the voter-approved proposition, ensuring transparency, accountability, and responsible use of taxpayer funds.

Bond Transparency Act

The bond proposal requires 60% voter approval to pass. If the bond does not pass, the district will not be able to purchase new student trasnportation vehicles at this time.

Key Dates:

• Voter Registration Deadline: January 16^th
• Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: January 26^th at 5PM
• Early Voting: Feb. 5^th & 6^th from 8AM to 6PM at the Stephens County Election Board Office  (Duncan, OK)
• Election Day: February 10^th from 7AM to 7PM at your assigned voting location

You can call the Stephens County Election Board or visit the Oklahoma State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal to verify your voter registration, find your assigned polling place and learn about absentee and early voting options.