State Questions on the Ballot

SQ 758 Rep. Dank/Sen. Reynolds
A yes vote would reduce the allowable cap on annual property tax increases from 5% to 3% for homesteads and agricultural land. Oklahoma’s property taxes are the 8th fastest growing in the nation. The property tax is the only automatic tax increase we have in Oklahoma. This is not a cut, this is a fiscal restraint. This measure would not affect the property tax freeze for people who are at least 65 years of age and meet household income guidelines.

SQ 759 Rep. Osborn/Sen. R. Johnson
A yes vote on this question would end any affirmative action in the state of Oklahoma that utilizes taxpayer dollars. Current uses of taxpayer dollars that allow preference due to race or gender include some college scholarships and municipal contracting. No special treatment or discrimination would be allowed in public employment, education, or public contracting. Any private entities would still be able to utilize affirmative action with their private dollars. Similar legislation has been passed in the states of Washington, Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona, and California. This is about fairness and equal treatment for all Oklahomans regardless of race, religion, color, sex, or national origin.

SQ 762 Rep. Steele/Sen. Brecheen
A yes vote on this measure would give the state pardon and parole board the power to review and decide parole requests for nonviolent offenders. For violent offenses, the parole board would continue to make recommendations to the Governor, who would make the final decision. Oklahoma is the only state that requires Gubernatorial approval for all paroles. This should make our pardon and parole process more efficient and according to the 2007 MGT audit save the state $40 million over the next decade.

SQ 764 Rep. Richardson/Sen. Crain
A yes vote on this measure would sustain and expand the Oklahoma Water Resources Board water and wastewater infrastructure financing program. Projections are that over the next 50 years water infrastructure replacement across the state will grow exponentially. The OWRB currently administers bond issues for municipalities and water districts to replace and repair that infrastructure. In the decades that this has been the practice of the OWRB there has never been a bond not repaid. This is due to strict criteria and monitoring of the repayment abilities. This state question would allow more bonding to be permitted under the same guidelines as before, to address the critical water needs across our state. This measure allows the OWRB to issue up to $300 million in general obligation bonds, that will be repaid, to cover the reserve fund for the water and sewage treatment program.

SQ 765 Rep. Steele/Sen. Treat
A yes vote on this State Question would abolish the Commission for Human Services, a constitutionally mandated, 9 member group of unelected volunteers. It is a 1930’s governance model that can be traced to the agency’s major problems with an unaccountable commission and an insulated director. With the passage of this measure The DHS director will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. This would place the agency’s leadership closer to the people because the Governor is accountable to all the people of the state. DHS would basically now be answering directly to the public, not an unelected, unaccountable commission.

SQ 766 Rep. Dank/Sen. Mazzei
A yes vote on this State Question would exempt all intangible personal property from property taxes in our state. An intangible personal property item is something such as a trademark, logo, intellectual property, client list etc. If passed this would take effect on January 13, 2013. Approval of this state question will protect Oklahoma from a competitive advantage with surrounding states that do not have this unquantifiable, discriminatory tax. This would also repeal the very unpopular Business Activity Tax that was passed in 2010.

758 Yes. The higher the cap, the faster taxes will - er, DO rise.

759 Yes. A level playing field is the way to go. Otherwise, no one tries harder and both quality and cost effectiveness suffer.

762 No. The Governor's involvement keeps checks and balances in place at all levels of criminal pardons, and the Governor is the only accountable(elected) official in the process.

764 No. We must keep the legislature involved in the bond process and as a result, keep the final vote of the people involved in approving all bond issues. If this passes, there will be a flood of other agencies wanting to commit the people of Oklahoma to paying off bonds for their respective pet projects. Accountable people(elected officials) need to be kept in the loop - as well as the direct involvement of we the people.

765 Yes. This will not eliminate the DHS, only remove the current board(unelected officials) and replace it with something the legislature will create - again, keeping accountable elected officials in the loop.

766 Yes. People own "intangible" assets to create or earn taxable tangible assets. Why should an individual pay a tax for an asset not yet worked or sold, or for a license used to make a living(think barber, hair dresser, beautician, plumber, truck driver, doctor, dentist, etc., etc.)? Should a person pay a tax for a license he or she is not using? Should an oil company pay a tax for oil or gas still underground that can't truly be calculated?

Your opinions may vary.

Woody

Yes
yes
no
no
yes
yes

And a big NO on Tulsa county Vision 2

like the way u think woody

Yes
yes
no
no
yes
no

And a big NO on Tulsa county Vision 2

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And remember, that's Prop 1 and Prop 2 on the ballot.

I also say

yes
yes
no
no
yes
yes

I am not a fan of the notion of intellectual property, but anything that results in less private wealth being appropriated by the State I am all for. As for affirmative action, I say individuals have a right to be racist all they want to in choosing what to do with their money... but anything that limits the activities of the government or handouts they might give I am all for.

Lurker66 said:

Yes
yes
no
no
yes
no

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I don't think I've seen a person here say no on 766. Feel like sharing why?

Opinions from the OK State School Boards Ass'n

SQ 766- Intangible Personal Property
What is SQ 766?
SQ 766 is a question on the November ballot that asks Oklahomans if they want to end the assessment of tax on intangible personal property from both locally and centrally assessed entities.

What does that mean?!?
Ad valorem tax is a tax that is assessed based on the value of real property (your home) or personal property (your car). Ad valorem tax is a large source of income for education.
Intangible personal property is property which value is measured not in physical attributes, but rather from what it represents (Braum's sign). For example, intangible personal property that is currently taxed but would no longer be taxed if SQ 766 passes are things such as patents, formulas, designs, trade secrets, franchises, land leases, mineral leases, software, trademarks, and brand names.

What it would do if passed:
SQ 766 if passed would exempt all intangible personal property from ad valorem taxation.
According to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, the passage of SQ 766 would result in an estimated $50 million dollar statewide impact which would cost common education $32 million and career and technology schools over $10 million.
The loss of this revenue stream for education will have to be made up from some other revenue source. Some districts have budget items that cannot be cut, such as bond issues and legal judgments. Local assessors will have to increase property taxes to offset that lost revenue, in order to insure that those bond payments and legal judgments are paid.

What would happen if it fails?
Nothing would change in the taxation for fiscal year 2014. The legislature passed a trailer bill that sends the proposal back to the legislature to try and resolve in another way.
Not passing SQ 766 would NOT result in a tax increase.

SQ 765 - Repeals Sections of Oklahoma Constitution Related to Department of Public Welfare
What is SQ 765?
SQ 765 is a question on the November ballot that asks Oklahomans if they want to repeal language in the Oklahoma Constitution regarding the Department of Human Services.

What does that mean?!?!?
The ballot language is ambiguous and unclear. The ballot title provides that passage of this measure "abolishes the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma Commission of Human Services and the position of Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services." However, the authors of the measure state that passage will only abolish the "Oklahoma Commission of Human Services." The ballot language does not address what will happen immediately upon passage of the measure.

What it would do if passed:
This is uncertain. A trailer bill was passed by the Oklahoma legislature to address issues associated with the measure. However, the Attorney General did not rewrite the ballot title upon request by the former Speaker of the House. The actual impact of passage of this measure is unclear.

What would happen if it fails?
Nothing would change. The Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma Commission of Human Services, and the position of Director of the Oklahoma Department would remain within the Oklahoma Constitution.

SQ 764 - Revenue Bonds for the Water Resources Board
What is SQ 764?
SQ 764 is a question on the November ballot that asks Oklahomans if they want to provide the Oklahoma Water Resources Board the authority to issue bonds.

What does that mean?!?
SQ 764 would authorize the Oklahoma Water Resources Board the ability to issue up to $300 million worth of bonds for certain water resource and sewage treatment funding programs.

What it would do if passed:
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board would have a reserve fund for certain water resource and sewage treatment funding programs.

What would happen if it fails?
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board would not be able to issue bonds as authorized by this measure.

SQ 762 - Governor's Involvement in Pardon and Parole Process
What is SQ 762?
SQ 762 is a question on the November ballot that asks Oklahomans if they want to remove the Governor from the parole process for persons convicted of nonviolent offenses.

What does that mean?!?
SQ 762 would increase the power and authority of the Pardon and Parole Board by authorizing that entity to grant parole to persons convicted of offenses defined as nonviolent offenses.

What it would do if passed:
An appointed body, rather than the elected Governor, would have the final determination as to whether persons convicted of certain offenses defined as nonviolent would be granted parole.

What would happen if it fails?
The Governor would continue to have the final authority to determine whether or not persons convicted of certain offenses defined as nonviolent would be granted parole.

SQ 759 - Affirmative Action Programs
What is SQ 759?
SQ 759 is a question on the November ballot that asks Oklahomans to eliminate affirmative action programs.

What does that mean?!?
Affirmative action programs would only be allowed in very limited circumstances in employment, education, and contracting.

What it would do if passed:
For the most part, any affirmative action program would be prohibited. Exceptions would exist for court orders, federal program/grant requirements, or where a bonafide condition of employment exists.

What would happen if it fails?
Language prohibiting affirmative action would not be within the Oklahoma Constitution.

SQ 758- Lowers Cap on Homestead and Agricultural Property
What is SQ 758?
SQ 758 is a question on the November ballot that asks Oklahomans if the cap on fair cash valuation of homestead and agricultural property should be lowered from 5% annually to 3% annually.

What does that mean?!?
SQ 758 would change the limit on how much taxes can be increased on homestead and agricultural property. At present, the allowable increase on the fair cash value of homestead and agricultural property for taxation purposes is limited to a 5% increase annually. SQ 758 proposes limiting that annual increase to 3%.

What it would do if passed?
SQ 758 would decrease the cap on how much agricultural or homestead property taxes can be increased annually from 5% to 3% of the fair cash valuation of that property.
Property taxes are a major source of revenue for education. Lowering the allowable increase in property valuations would likely only benefit those whose property values are increasing enough to exceed the cap. People who are living in communities who property values remain steady or decline would receive little or no benefit from this reduction.
Passing SQ 758 would result in a loss of approximately $5,600,000.00 to common education and career technology schools (based on Oklahoma Tax Commission Estimates 2012). Like SQ 766, if this passes, the loss of revenue stream to school districts will have to be made from another revenue source.

What would happen if it fails?
Nothing would change. Homestead and agricultural property would still be taxed at a maximum allowable increase of 5% annually.
Not passing SQ 758 would NOT result in a tax increase.

Danny Tanner said:

I don't think I've seen a person here say no on 766. Feel like sharing why?

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Like many others, im not for adding or expanding taxes. I think we would be better served if the citizens rejected the question and let the small business lobby for change rather than lose the revenue the state now receives from large business.

I also dont think this law could ever be enforced to any degree, except by large companies that have and claim intangible property as assets.

By voting NO, the Legislature would have to address the issue of taxing small business owners and the Legislature could be held accountable, instead they throw it in our lap. The need to do the job we elect them for.