BER 31, 1996
The PERKINS JOURNAL
This newspaper is dedicated to the memories of
Dr. K V. and Bea Clark
(USPS 42 8040)
Published every Thursday and entered as
periodical postage paid at Perkins, Ok 740S9-0040
122 S. Main Box 40 Perkins, OK 74059
405-547-241 I
Rick and Kathy Clark
Publishers
The publishers are solely responsible for content and any errors wil
be promptly corrected when brought to the attention of the pub-
lishers.
Office hours: 9-6, Mon.&Tues
CLOSED WEDNESDAY
9-5 Thur. & Fri.
9-noon on Sat.
Deadline for advertising & news submissions is Noon, Monday.
POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to The Perkins Journai,
P.O. Box 40, Perkins, OK 74059-0040
All contents © Copyright 1996
MEMBER OF:
THE PERKINS CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
OKLAtfOM4
:RESS A$SOCIATION
Ill
State Questions 675, 676 and 677 Will
Bring Property Tax Relief to Oklahomans
After Oklahoma voters rejected State Question 669 in March of
1996, the Oklahoma Legislature submitted to the people three state
questions designed to provide property tax relief for Oklahomans.
The questions were brought to the Legislature by a citizens advi-
sory task force.
State Questions 675, 676 and 677 have wide support from leading
business, agriculture and education groups - many of which op-
posed each other in the battle over State Question 669. Political
support is bipartisan with strong endorsement from Governor Frank
Keating, Senator President Pro TOm Stratton Taylor and House
Speaker Glen D. Johnson.
It is agreed that these three new questions create a positive envi-
ronment for both property owners and businesses that pay prop-
erty taxes. At the same time, schools and local governments will
not suffer revenue losses.
State Question 675
Rick:
ent Caps locally assessed real property tax
with a floor of 11 percent. Witlaout the
sessed real property tax ratio could climb to 35
below 13.5 percent may be increased annually in
percentage point only upon approval by a vote of the
county. Ratios may be decreased within the
out approval of the voters in a county. In no
13.5 percent.
Caps all personal property
businesses at 15 percent with a floor of 10
proposed cap, personal property ratios could rise
same rules for increasing or decreasing real
ratios apply to personal property ratios.
Stabilizes the assessment ratio on all
erty at the level in effect on January 1, 1996 at
torically, this ratio has fluctuated widely.
will create a more pro-business economic
- State Question 676
./::": :.. . .?.: .......
Limits an increase in the fair cash value
TH sessed real property to 5 percent in any taxable
sion does not apply if the property sells or if real
-:./ ments are made. This provision does not apply to
.......... .......... .......... ii .......... personal property or state assessed property.
Thanks for the opportunity to be quoted in Galen's' 50th year in
banking feature in The Perkins Journal. I had received an invita-
tion and had given some thought to writing in my Inola column,
State Question 677
Freezes the tax value of homes owned by
but expressing my thoughts in The Perkins Journal will be much are 65 or older with gross household incomes of
rTTSub c 'b y " lTu;;l?Omit . lbZ7oTm"'a d"' ll,,ml better. This benefit is portable and is tied to the property
I first met Galen in September of 1954. I was just out of the Air property, itself. Future improvements to.the real
i With Remittance To: 1.he Perkins |oumal, p.O. Box Force, enrolled at OSU, going to work at The Perkins Journal for valued and added to the assessed value of the t
i 40, Perkins, OK 74059-0040 i Clyde and Martha Pat Brown, who were editors then. I opened an
account there with some of my mustering-out pay. Galen and Delbert Advantages of Passage of
I " I were a great help to me as I became editor and then owner of The State Questions 675, 676 and 677.
I Name......................................... , .............................. ,... IPerkins Journal. I've been banking there in some form or another
in the subsequent 40-some years, very much a part of their loan Stops huge increases in property taxes.
I I file, ha! One thing about Galen and Juanita, the , crawled before Gives local voters control over their prop
i Address ........................................................................ | they walked! They always lived very simply and conservatively, in it away from a state agency in Oklahoma City.
I I a nice but modest home, drove an affordable automobile, fed-out Assessment ratios (tax rates) will be
] City .............................. State ................ Zip..; ................. i cattle on the side in a little pen up by Ralph's Packing Plant and 13.5 percent.
involved themselves in church and civic activities. When the op- Freezes the assessed value of homes owned bYj
l( ) One year in Oklahoma .... $24 I portunity arose, they were always ready and prepared to take a citizens.
|( ) 6 months In Oklahoma .... $14 | leadership part in the community and they've been providing that - Protects schools and local government
I( ) One year Out of State ..... $28 unobtrusive leadership since, highly respected and appreciated in Encourages job creation by assuring stable
|( ) 6 months Out of State .... $16 | the community, for businesses. Oklahoma will be better able
Bob Evans rounding states in recruiting new businesses and oure
1_ ...= .. _... -....- .....-- -........-- .- --. --... -. j publisher, lnola Independent nesses will be encouraged to expand.
Hey, how do you like the new header for Amber Waves? Pretty
snazzy, huh?. Well, considering the subjectit looks'pretty good.
My Little Brother, Dean, put his artistic "magic" on it.
Little Brother? Heck, he's 44 years old, but I guess Big Brothers
always call Little Brothers Little Brother.
RC
I knew I was going to catch it last week when I had to put my
picture on the front page.
"Nice photo on page one, Clark."
Gee thanks,
"Of the lady that is."
"That was a great likeness of you on page one."
Thanks, I appreciate it.
"I couldn't tell the difference between you and Inhofe."
RVC
I swear to you it was the only one that came out of all the pictures
I had taken and planned for page one.
I'm like most of you. I hate having my picture taken and hate it
even worse when it's in the paper. I try to keep as much space avail-
able for those that read the Journal, rather than those who print
the Journal, so sorry about that. You know it's a "slow" news week
when the two pictures on the front page are those of a politician
and a publisher.
RVC
The two things that we all have in common are that we are all
born and we all will die.
What we do between the two is what distinguishes us from oth
ers.
Such is the case with Galen Holsinger.
This issue is filled with quotes from others about what Galen has
done for this community-in and outside of its city limits-for the
past 50 years.
He was not born a rich man. His father and mother were farmers
in an era that was ending with the small operator and the begin-
ning of the big operator thanks to machinery that lessened the de-
mand for the small guy.
If this sounds like an obituary or a toast to a man who is quittingl
forget it. He would be offended.
When you spend 50 years listening to people's woes and wants,
but find that their joys and successes mean more to you, then, like
Galen, you've lived a life that is deservedly admired.
If between life's Point A and Point B, you have served your God,
family, country, profession, and community such as Galen, then you
have distinguished yourself from the others.
There are many people who do not understand the difference be-
tween what is "business" and what is "personal". To survive in any
business you must be able to understand the difference.
Those that do not understand that fact usually are in bankruptcy,
about to be, or will be.
Those that I have heard "cuss" Galen are described bove.
When Galen and I were having the interview about his 50 years
in the banking business, I made this comment to him, which he
related to. "In the newspaper business, if the editor is the most
liked guy in town, he's probably not doing his job."
A newspaper friend of mine, Terry Hoggatt, editor of the Cushing
Daily Citizen has this to say about those that cuss him: 'Tou don't
have to like me, just read me."
Which means to me that I don't care whether you like me or not,
just respect me.
Galen and I have had our differences. He won't tell you that', be-
cause the class in him figures that's between he and I.
Besides, those are differences we've worked out, and even if we
had not, I would still respect him as a businessman and person as
much as I do today.
We are all born with something to give to our fellow human be-
ing. We will all die and take nothing with us. What we leave behind
as a contribution to the betterment of others is What really counts.
Just ask Galen.
Letter to the Editor:
Why is Friends Of The Library needed? To support the mission of
the Thomas-Wilhite Memorial Library by the promotion of life-long
learning for individuals with quality materials in pleasant surround-
ings.
In the early 80's, a microfilm reader/printer was purchased along
with a microfilm collection of early day newspapers. The collection
includes forty years (1904-1948) of area lore in the Cimarron Val-
ley Clipper, The Perkins Journal (beginning in 1893) and Ripley,
Fallis and Carney newspapers from 1904 that are no longer pub-
lished.
Editorial Opinion
II
'on
by Ben Biackstock
Voters should approve all six legislative referenda
ballot Tuesday, Nov. 5. All six would amend the
When genealogical researchers come from as far aw y, Now were submitted by the legislature; two by the fourt
" " ~ ~ " " "si " "
Mexico, it's sad to say, copies because the machine broken, ons. Amazingly, four of the slx amendments were
votes.
The only other place with this resource is the Historical Society
Library in Oklahoma City. This is near the capitol and is open the
hours of other state offices.
A new machine costs $7,000 plus. The fiscal year budget allotted
by the city is $6,700 for maintenance, operation, building repairs
and book purchases. A reconditioned machine with a warranty costs
$3,500 or thereabouts. The library board has pursued grants by
foundations who have given to libraries, BUT the application must
be accompanied by a federal tax exemption form. Work is in progress
to charter Friends Of The Library, Inc., so this can be done.
These are exciting time for the library. Soon there will be a com-
puter donated by a Friend Of The Library for patron use. The fall of
'97, the library will join OneNet and in 1998 the Thomas Wilhite
Memorial Library will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary,
If you can join the Friends Of The Library or remember the li-
brary in memorials to loved ones, please give to the Thomas-Wilhite
Memorial Library. Your heirs may be researching you life and times.
Sincerely,
Carol Acuff,
President, Library Board
SQ 670 would make it a little tougher to
o
Grand Jury. Current law reqmres signatures of one
population. SQ 670 would raise the minimum number
500 and establish 5,000 as the maximum required in any
law allows abuse by soreheads who tie everything up by
tures on anything. The 1995 vote was 56-44 in the HouSe
Senate.
SQ 671 would permit school boards to contract
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............................... ======================== .................... by Elizabeth Wise
..../S" .
Politics seems to be the mail topic of discussion these days. It
reminds me of a pre-football game, with odds and percentages be-
ing quoted, as to the outcome of the game.
My parents were staunch republicans. Mom didn't even like the
Roosevelt dimes. She thought FDR was a socialist who was trying
to make more people dependent on the government for their living.
She always voted, though. Dad was more philosophical, but he
voiced an occasional opinion. I've heard .him say that a man might
be honest when he went into politics, but he doubted that he stayed
honest. Lee Kirk was the only democrat that Dad ever campaigned
for. He liked Lee, and so did Mom.
Now we have more women taking in politics. Yes!!! It seems
to me that women are more expert in getting their views across to
the people, in a more persuasive way. Maybe I'm prejudiced. Any-
how, if I'm right, then Heaven help us if we elect a woman who is
now blessed with integrity.
ARer reading the newspapers and watching TV ads of the candi-
dates, I'm still a skeptic, and I don't like the feeling.
However, I'm going to vote, the good Lord willing. I'll hope for the
best and grip if things don't go right.
What will be, will be.
up to three years. The limit now is one year. That hurts
districts hiring in competition with other states such as TexaS ~
is a 5-year contract. Top administrators don't want to sell
place, buy in aeother and find a new majority on
other superintendent. The 1995 House voted 63-33, the
SQ 674 establishes specific constitutional rights for crime
are to know the status of the investigation, prosecution,
dant and to be present at proceedings, to be heard at
proceedings. Victims will also be awarded restitution by the~
son convicted and be notified of the release or escape of th,
the three other referenda below were submitted by the
out an opposing vote.
The three other referenda are SQ 675,676 and 677. TheY
erty tax assessments. All followed voter rejection of initiative]
last spring and recommendation of a citizens task force. For
SQ 675 proposes the constitution be amended to remove the
mum assessment ratio. The range would be changed to a
and a maximum of 15% for personal and 11 to 13.5%
sessed value. These are the current ranges established by
Equalization. Utilities, airlines and railroads properties are
the state to equalize distribution to school districts.
valuation percentages at 22.85 for utilities, 11.07 for air lines
SQ 676 is an amendment which would limit evaluation
year on real property unless the property title is changed
on improvements. This cap does not apply to I
vice corporation prope y or to counties not in compliance
Equalization's assessment ratios. Counties may
els with the ranges by election called by county
initiative, but only by a maximum of 1% per year.
SQ 677 would freeze the fair cash value of the homesrod
65 and older with a gross household income of $25,000 or
would add value but the freeze stays until the owner dies
ceeds $25,000.
Several organizations are working for passage of these
forms. Those who pushed 669 last spring wanted more and s
believe in public schools. These proposed changes are
result in rollbacks nor upset already voted bond
income.
For those reasons a yes vote on every one of the six
mended.
HOO
3ATORDAY NIGtT?
