Hat Tip: The Wynn Blog

By John M. Wylie II, Editor

Copyright 2007, Oologah Lake Leader

Northeast Technology Center wants an annual 400% tax increase - $4.4 million a year - but has tried to keep next week's election on the issue a secret.

Voters in Rogers and seven other counties are scheduled to take part in a special election next Tuesday, Dec. 11, to decide on the proposed increase in NTC's building fund levy and to decide whether to make the increase permanent.

But until the Leader began an investigation Monday, the election was a well-kept secret - even from top county officials and AEP-Public Service Co. of Oklahoma, which would face a $308,000 hit in Rogers County alone from the higher tax.

PSO customers could eventually pay twice, because such taxes are a factor in setting utility rates.

The NTC board voted on Oct. 1 to call the election but issued no public notice until Nov. 28, school spokesman Gary Fox confirmed Tuesday.

The only announcement made last week was a legal notice in the Pryor Daily Times - the smaller of the two legal newspaper in Mayes county. Neither it nor its larger weekly competitor, The Paper, makes any claim to be a regional newspaper (such as the Tulsa World or The Oklahoman). Read more...

Labels: tax increases