(Stillwater, Okla) – The Payne County Budget Board on Friday reversed course on the pending split of county sales tax road fund distribution pending a study, possibly by Oklahoma State University.
The decision came on a unanimous vote of the budget board, which is made up of the county’s elected officials. Sheriff R.B. Hauf was not in attendance at the special meeting.
The decision reverses an earlier decision by the Payne County Board of Commissioners to split the distribution of the sales tax collections dedicated to road and bridge improvements froma 65-35 split in favor of District 3.
Payne County has three districts, but is split into two road districts.
At the May 21st meeting of the Board of Commissioners, a motion was made to change the funding split from 50-50 between Districts 1 & 3 to a 65/35 split in favor of District 3. The vote was 2-1 with District 2 Commissioner Gloria Hesser voting with District 3 Commissioner Jim Arthur to change the split. Newly6 elected District 1 Commissioner Zach Cavett had argued against the split at the May 21st meeting.
The decision caused an uproar, and prompted complaints to the District Attorney that Hesser and Arthur had violated the Oklahoma Open Meeting act. On Thursday, District Attorney Tom Lee announced he had requested an OSBI investigation into the complaints. Lee also said he would ask State Attorney General Scott Pruitt to appoint another District Attorney to review the findings, because his office represents the County Commission.
At Friday’s meeting of the Budget Board, County Clerk Linda Hatfield made a motion to return to the 50/50 split for the time being, keeping 30 per cent of the funds collected in abeyance until a study is completed to determine how the funds should be divided.
Payne County Treasurer Bonita Stadler asked that the motion be amended to include a preference that Oklahoma State University be contacted a bout conducting the study.
At issue is how much development is occurring in each part of the county. Cavett argued at Friday’s meeting that taking funds away from District 1 would stifle development. Arthur argued at the May 21st meeting that the development is already occurring in District 3, and that a majority of the sales taxes are collected in the Stillwater area.
****
