Ad valorem forum, 01/2012, v.21 no.1

              Volume XXI, Issue I January 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:
Happy New Year 2012
Unlike last year, Oklahoma’s January has not been a real deep freeze, but there’s still time for hard core
cold weather. It’s hard to believe that we’re ready for another legislative session and it’s been a year since the
inaugural ceremony for Oklahoma’s first female Governor in 2011.
This year in 2012 we have some other firsts. Although the Oklahoma Assessors Association celebrated
the 100th anniversary of the appointment of the first county assessors, they didn’t actually take office until
the first Monday in January 1912. So we have a second anniversary to celebrate either on January 1 (the actual
first Monday) or on January 8, 1912 because apparently most County Commissions waited until then. (History
is always a little more complicated than it seems.)
The Ad Valorem Division has published its Business Personal Property Schedule for 2012, and it’s been
posted out on the web. The 2012 Schedule is a good effort, and we are pleased with the input we received from
all parties involved. We are sending email notices on new material to remind people to look out on the web.
Public Service is preparing its renditions for mail out by February 14, 2012. Mike Isbell and his staff are
making plans for the fifth Capitalization Rate Conference on March 29 and 30th. We hope to post the forms
for Public Service on February 1. We are expecting a busy year.
The Ad Valorem Division has sent out the letters of improvement and concern for 2012. If your county
received one, please review it carefully. It is our hope that the letter will clarify areas of concern before those
issues become compliance problems. So please look at these letters in the spirit in which they are offered: a
way to address possible compliance issues early in the process.
IAAO did a great article on the Oklahoma Chapter of IAAO in the latest issue of Fair and Equitable
featuring Mike Morrison of Oklahoma County for winning the George Keyes Award for outstanding service
to the IAAO Chapter for 2011. Congratulations to Mike. Wade Patterson, Garfield County Assessor, is chair
of the IAAO Communications Committee.
We are preparing for the CODA meeting next month. Hope to see everyone there. We’ll have some idea
about some of the plans the Legislature has for the next session. The Ad Valorem Division has been talking
with President Scott Kirby who’s been burning up the road since he first took office. He was at the Capitol
for a meeting on January 12 and a Rules Hearing on January 18th. He’s doing a good job working with the
Ad Valorem Division.