EDMOND —
Voters will go to the polls Nov. 6 to decide whether to approve State Question 758, a measure to limit ad valorem taxation on valuation increases, according to the ballot.
The fair cash value of the property is a measure of ad valorem taxes. Passage of SQ 758 would change the limits on fair cash value increases from 5 percent to 3 percent for homestead exempted property and agricultural land.
“I’m very hopeful it will pass and put the cap on increasing valuations from 5 percent to 3 percent,” said state Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.
State Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, said House District 31 residents consider it a priority to cap ad valorem taxes. Lowering the cap would nearly reduce tax rate increases by 50 percent, he said.
“Over the years they’ve made it very clear that the property tax which potentially can double every 14 years or so, punishes those who have worked a lifetime to earn their home,” Murphey said.
A large property tax payment looms for homeowners to cope with even after they have paid off their mortgages, he added.
The proposed cap of 3 percent is a good start but even a 3 percent cap will hurt a homeowner’s ability to stay in their home, said state Rep. Lewis Moore, R-Edmond.
SQ 758 was sent to the general election ballot in 2011 sponsorship by then-Sen. Jim Reynolds and state Rep. David Dank, both Oklahoma City Republicans.
“We’re talking about future increases. So right now increase in the county is below 3 percent. So we really shouldn’t see any dramatic change in things,” said Larry Stein, deputy chief of the Oklahoma County Assessor’s Office.
He said the school districts may have a concern with the reduction of the increases. Loss of revenue, however, will merely reduce the growth without making reductions, Stein said.
“We wish the Legislature would have started paying their bills first, like the additional homestead they haven’t paid since 2002 to the Oklahoma counties which is more than $50 million for all Oklahoma 77 counties,” Stein said. “We were hoping they would address some of those issues before they started making dramatic changes in the ad valorem laws.”
TO LEARN MORE about Oklahoma state questions, go to https://www.sos.ok.gov/gov/proposed_questions.aspx.
Local News
SQ 758 might limit property tax increases
- Local News
-
-
House approves $45M aid package for tornado victims
As rain poured this morning on disaster relief workers in the Moore and Oklahoma City areas, the Oklahoma House of Representatives unanimously approved a $45 million aid package to provide relief to those impacted by Monday’s EF-5 tornado.
-
Lincoln County Emergency Management calls for help
Carney is a city of about 649 residents and following the recent tornado outbreak 20 homes were destroyed there and an additional 18 homes in the county were leveled.
Wednesday, a press release from Lincoln County, along with Wellston Emergency Management Office and the City of Carney, stated that at this time the needs have changed for the city. -
Oklahoma National Guard coordinates tornado relief support
Oklahoma National Guard members, who work side-by-side with local responders to aid in recovery efforts during domestic operations such as the May 20 tornado that tore through Oklahoma City and Moore, are given their tasks through the Guard's Joint Operations Center.
The JOC, located in the Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is primarily responsible for the collection, dissemination and tracking of information to increase the situational awareness for leadership as well as the National Guard Bureau, said Lt. Col. Hiram Tabler, the director of military support for Oklahoma's Joint Force Headquarters. -
Businesses offer free relief to tornado victims
Listed is information on free services offered to victims of the recent tornadoes.
-
TIMELAPSE: Take a tour through the damage in Moore
Take a driving tour of the damage in Moore caused by Monday's tornado.
-
Moore mayor wants tornado shelters in new homes
Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis wants tornado shelters in all new homes in his city, where an EF-5 tornado damaged or destroyed more than 12,500 homes Monday afternoon. A proposed ordinance would require a shelter inside or outside each new residence.
-
Rescue workers, tornado victims find respite in college dorms
Monday’s tornado put an estimated 20,000 people out of their houses, which were damaged or destroyed. Some of those victims — and the rescue workers who’ve come to help them — are staying a few miles south, in dormitories at the University of Oklahoma.
More than 300 individuals and families left homeless by the storm are staying at OU, where the university is providing beds, hot water and meals, often delivered by a familiar face. The university also housed 287 first-responders from Texas, Nebraska, Kansas and Tennessee. -
Mom delivered baby as tornado struck
Shayla Taylor’s second child was moments from birth as an EF-5 tornado bore down on Moore Medical Center on Monday afternoon.
Her labor was too far along to move her to safety with the rest of those in the hospital, her nurses decided. So as her husband, Jerome, and their 4-year-old son, Shaiden, went downstairs with the others, she and four nurses stayed upstairs and braced for the worst. -
Storm-weary residents return to their homes
Digging through the rubble of an unrecognizable city, people in this Oklahoma City suburb found familiar pieces of life before Monday’s tornado.
Work crews recovered a dresser that belonged to Rachel Hernandez from the remains of her home near Southeast Fourth Street and Bryant Avenue. Inside was a treasured photo of her grandmother at age 17.
“I had an entire collection of family photos in that dresser,” said Hernandez, who also salvaged a German antique pot, as well as some mementoes she didn’t recognize. -
Oklahoma tornado victims identified
Ten children — including two infants — are among those killed by a monster tornado that slashed through parts of Oklahoma City and this suburb Monday afternoon.
- More Local News Headlines
-
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
