OKLAHOMA CITY — Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman on Thursday said a solid business plan exists to fund a proposed popular culture museum in Tulsa.
With only a few weeks left in the session, Bingman, R-Sapulpa, plans to offer legislation in an attempt to make the project a reality after years of failed attempts.
Lawmakers began the session in February and must adjourn by 5 p.m. May 29, but could finish sooner. Bingman can introduce a bill at any time.
One of the strongest supporters of the museum is Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society.
The startup money for the museum, called OKPOP, would come from History Center funds.
Those state-appropriated dollars are currently used to pay off the bond debt for the new Historical Society facility across from the Capitol. The bonds retire in 2018, Blackburn said. Under the proposal, the money to retire the debt would still be left in the Oklahoma Historical Society’s base budget and go to OKPOP.
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The Legislature in 1999 initially authorized bonds for the new History Center. The total came to $50 million, with an additional $12 million from outside sources, Blackburn said. The new History Center was completed in 2005, Blackburn said.
As a result of the retiring of debt and transfer of funds to the OKPOP, the project would not require new state dollars, Blackburn said. However, it would still require a state appropriation.
“You’ve got private investment and public investment,” Bingman said. “You have a location in Tulsa that’s available. It pays for itself. The business plan does not take any additional state funding.”
Bingman said Blackburn has a proven track record of performing on projects.
Blackburn said the OKPOP would require $25 million and be finished in the fall of 2018. Design changes reduced the cost from $40 million, he said. The project would be self-supporting, Blackburn said.
The museum would be located south of Archer Street between Main Street and Boston Avenue, just north of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad tracks. It would showcase the role of famous Oklahomans in music, television and theater, among other areas.
House Minority Leader Scott Inman, D-Del City, said his caucus has not taken an official stance on OKPOP, but he personally supports the idea of finishing it without any new money.
“The fact they are not spending any new money and not diverting any money away from core functions of government makes the plan more palatable,” Inman said.
Bingman said the business model is totally different from that of the unfinished American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City.
Supporters are seeking another bond issue to the tune of $40 million to be matched with dollars from other sources to complete it. Millions in state dollars have already been spent on the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum.
“These are totally unrelated,” Bingman said of the two projects.
Bingman said the state House is working on a proposal involving the Oklahoma City facility.
“I don’t know the exact details,” Bingman said.
But whether either project can garner enough support remains to be seen. Lawmakers are crafting a fiscal year 2016 budget and have $611 million less to work with than was available in the 2015 budget.
