Media Contact: TakeShelterOK@gmail Gov. Fallin Finally Admits Proposing Property Tax Increase $880 million Increase to Build Storm Shelters Oklahoma City (Mar. 18, 2014) – Gov. Mary Fallin yesterday finally admit that she has proposed a local property tax increase even though an option to build storm shelters in all Oklahoma public schools existed without increasing taxes. “At least May Fallin has finally come clean with Oklahomans on one point, admitting she has proposed a property tax increase,” said Kristi Contazer, mother of Emily who was killed at Plaza Towers Elementary school last May when an EF5 tornado struck her school. “It is a shame that she hid the tax increase and wouldn’t admit what she was proposing prior to the House Republicans passing the largest property tax increase in the history of the state last week.” Fallin’s office released numbers Monday, showing a sampling of the local property tax increase she has proposed to build storm shelters in schools. According to the release, the Fallin proposal would increase taxes in the Enid Public School District $546.30 for every $100,000 in property value, in the Duncan Public School District $427 for every $100,000 in property value, and $599 in the Alva Public School District for very $100,000 in property value. “The numbers released by Fallin are more than the original projections we were looking at,” said Mikki Davis, mother of Kyle who was also killed on May 20th at Plaza Towers Elementary School. “According to the Oklahoma Tax Commission numbers we were looking at a $305 increase per $100,000 in property value. Whatever the amount per household is, the fact is statewide her proposal is a local property tax increase of at least $880 million. A burden local property owners cannot stand.” “Worse yet Fallin’s plan raises taxes but does not guarantee that if a storm shelter is built, it will meet FEMA standards. So bottom line is nothing in this bill will protect children’s safety,” said Danni Legg, whose son Christopher was also killed at Plaza Towers Elementary School. Fallin’s admission of the property tax increase comes after the plan passed the House last week in the bill HJR1092 authored by Reps. Mark McBride (R-District 53) and Jon Echols (R-District 90). The ballot title passed in the measure attempted to hide the property tax increase from voters as the House Republicans rejected amendments by Rep. Richard Morrissette (D-District 92) which would have explained to voters that the measure would increase local property taxes. “We have spent months before the Supreme Court because the Attorney General changed our ballot title to put significant emphasis on how the franchise tax is used to repay the state bond, but the Republicans want to hide they passed a property tax increase so they voted against telling voters what their measure actually does,” Legg concluded. ABOUT TAKE SHELTER OKLAHOMA Founded in 2013, Take Shelter Oklahoma is a grassroots campaign to secure state funding to construct storm shelters and enhance school security in all Oklahoma schools. More than 506,000 students and staff are currently unprotected in Oklahomas schools in case of tornadoes. ### Oklahoma Democratic Party 4100 N. Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Phone: 405-427-3366 Fax: 405-427-1310
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:29:51 +0000