Pittsburg County Assessor complains of legislative inaction

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Pittsburg County Assessor makes a plea to the state Equalization Board for help in reimbursing counties for money lost through property tax breaks.<br/><br/>Jim Kelley said yesterday

Friday, July 7th 2006, 6:40 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Pittsburg County Assessor makes a plea to the state Equalization Board for help in reimbursing counties for money lost through property tax breaks.

Jim Kelley said yesterday that lawmakers failed to make any reimbursements for the millions of dollars counties lose each year because of the tax incentives given for economic development purposes.

Governor Brad Henry -- who chairs the board -- says his budget proposed reimbursements for counties, along with schools and CareerTech districts.

But the Legislature only approved about $12-million in reimbursements for schools.

Henry says property tax reimbursements could be part of a supplemental funding package early next session.

The Equalization Board took action on this year's fiscal year budget, which exceeded $7.1-billion.