Oklahoma ad valorem forum, 11/2012, v.21 no.11

              Volume XXI, Issue XI November 2012
The mission of the Ad Valorem Division of the Oklahoma Tax Commission is
to promote an ad valorem property tax system which is fair and equitable
to all taxpayers by implementing standard valuation methodology, tax law
conformity, and assessment administration compliance.
Oklahoma
Ad Valorem F O R U M
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“IAAO Zangerle Award Winner:
1997 and 2010”
Director’s Notes: Thanksgiving was a little early this year, but there was a lot to be thankful for after a difficult year. The
election is over. Bedlam is over. (Wait Until Next Year.) The holiday season is starting. Lots of good economic
things are happening in Oklahoma.
One of the things that I thought about over the Thanksgiving holiday was some of the parallels between
Oklahoma in the 1930s and 2012, particularly when I was watching the Dust Bowl documentary by Ken Burns.
It’s a great example of strength, optimism in face of a myriad of obstacles, the power of endurance, and the
unity of purpose against powerful adversaries of bad weather, economics, and a drought.
My grandfather came to Boise City in Cimarron County in 1933 in the middle of the Great Depression
after he’d bought the local hardware store right in the middle of the drought of the century. Family legend
has it that there was a bad dust storm the day he opened his new business. I don’t know why he decided to
pick what seemed like such an inopportune time to take such a risk, but it worked out for him. He always
used to say things have a way of working out.
(In the second episode of Ken Burns’ documentary, I think there was a shot of the wall of my grandfather’s
hardware store in one of the many terrific old photographs shown in the series.)
We’re looking forward to working with the new officers. Scott Kirby did a good job last year, and I think
that Gail Hedgcoth, David Tinsley, and Mandy Snyder will also do well. Don’t forget to remind Gail that this
is her second time around, so we’ll expect a lot out
of her since she’s had some experience. Not much
has changed in ad valorem since 1995!
We’d like to thank the county assessors for
their help this year in working so well with our staff.
We had a busy year with all of our regular work
in completing the Annual Valuation Audit and the
Equalization Study, plus the new “test” audit which
required a super effort to get everything worked
out and in order. Our assessment and equalization
staff was given an extra assignment to complete in
an already busy year and despite some challenging
situations, they worked hard on the effort.
We’ve scheduled a meeting on SQ 766 for
December 6, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. at Metro Tech, Room
I of the Business Conference Center, 1900 Springlake
Drive in Oklahoma City.
BCC
ITC
HCC
EDC
Metro Tech Drive
1900 Springlake Drive
Martin Luther King Avenue
Prospect Avenue
Staton Dr
12/10
BCC
ITC
CCC
HCC
EDC
PSA
TM WH
SVC
7
8
10 9
12 11
13
14 4
5
C
D
F
G G
H
I
D
E
B A
Entrances
Parking
Metro Cafe
BCC Business Conference Center
CCC Child Care Training Center
EDC Economic Development Center
HCC Health Careers Center
ITC Information Technology Center
MCA Metro Career Academy
PSA Public Safety Academy
SVC Service Center
TM Transportation & Maintenance
WH Warehouse (shipping & receiving)
LEGEND
Campus Locator Map (12-2010)
2
3 1
6
MCA
Preparing for Life
Metro Technology Centers
Metro Tech Drive
(entry 6 and 7)
(entry 8)
(entry 13 and 14)
(entry 9, 10 and 11)
(entry 4 and 5)
(entry 1, 2 and 3)
(entry 12)