IN BRIEF: 3 Oklahoma counties remain noncompliant

Published: December 2, 2008

TAX COMMISSION

Most of the state’s counties are showing improvement when it comes to properly assessing taxes, but three remain out of compliance, a state Tax Commission official said Monday. Caddo, Tillman and Love counties remain in the category two level of noncompliance, Jeff Spelman, director of the Tax Commission’s ad valorem division, told members of the state Board of Equalization. A category three level is most severe and could involve a financial penalty and the state taking over a county assessor’s office until compliance is reached. "We’ve been working with them,” Spelman said. "They’ve got a lot of work to do, but they’re coming along.” Most county assessors seem to be doing a better job of keeping their appraisals consistent and their inspections on schedule, Spelman said.

LEGISLATURE

State Rep. Joe Dorman is renewing his fight to ensure state matching funds are provided to help disaster recovery efforts. Dorman said Monday he will file legislation to allow the state’s Rainy Day Fund to be used to match federal disaster funds. The Rush Springs Democrat says after ice storms in 2000, it took the state nearly six years to pay its share for disaster relief. His proposal would go to a vote of the people in 2010.

COURTS

After serving almost 30 years as a judge in Oklahoma, Woodward County Associate District Judge Joseph Marak will retire at the end of the year. "I’ve been a judge a total of 29 years,” Marak said, recalling he spent "four years in Lawton, a short time on the bench in Woods County and 24 years here.”

From Staff and Wire Reports

Your thoughts!