Editor, The Transcript:
This maybe the first, last and only time I ever agree with Bobby Cleveland. He is right about property taxes being too high in Cleveland County, particularly on older properties. I have argued many times with David Tinsley that his method of establishing market value is flawed.
He uses the highest sale or sales in a neighborhood to establish and inflated market value for homes in a given area. The problem with the Tinsley formula is that several sales at reduced values have to occur over time for the market value of a property in an area to ever fall to a lower level. Consequently, if there are few or no sales, then values tend to stay the same or possibly increase, even though real estate values have fallen approximately 30 percent or more, particularly in older areas. Tinsley's arbitrary formula does not reflect this decline.
I have checked with a couple of county assessors in surrounding counties who told me they do not use the Tinsley formula which tends to hold properties at their current inflated levels rather than reflect any decline in value.
The problem is not with the state law requiring property values to be raised 5 percent annually. Tinsley piously states he is only following the law. The problem is Tinsley's flawed method of setting market values which tends to inflate them but seldom to adjust values downward when market conditions warrant reductions in value. Seldom does a Democrat and a Republican agree but in this case, we do. We are overpaying in Cleveland County.
Neil McELDERRY JR.
Purcell
Letters
Agreeing with Bobby
- Letters
-
-
More government intrusion
Editor, The Transcript: Kudos to Kathryn Jean Lopez of the National Review Online for telling it like it is (Transcript Opinion, Feb. 12, 2012) regarding President Obama’s religious “overreach.” No, Mr. President, your latest knee-jerk ...
-
It’s time for Valentine’s Day
If it’s full of hearts and flowers And a cupid with a dart, That’s a card that’s mighty pretty and aimed right for your heart....
-
Gov. Fallin’s tax plan is one big mistake
Editor, The Transcript: Well, it’s official now. In her State of the State message, Gov. Fallin confirmed that she hopes to reduce the state income tax now and totally eliminate it later. Big mistake, for two compelling reasons....
-
Another Library Vote? Good grief!
Editor, The Transcript A new library on the west side? With hardly any books? With a dumb name above the entry as shown in your rendering? Infoplace? The library bureaucracy must think Norman voters just fell off the turnip truck....
-
Eliminating state taxes places burden on poor
Editor, The Transcript: Your editorial on Feb. 8th that expressed your pleasure that the bill by Jim Wilson that would have removed the sales tax exemptions from newspapers was killed in committee was disconcerting. I can agree that the ...
-
Not time to experiment with state taxes
Editor, The Transcript Governor Fallin proposed more cuts to the state income tax in her State of the State speech Feb. 6. This comes on the heels of a House Tax Reform Task Force that also proposed phasing out the state income tax over a ...
-
Local investment is better for Norman
Editor, The Transcript Americans from all walks of life and political ideologies are asserting their voice to tell Wall Street “Enough is enough!” Occupy Norman members spoke at the Dec. 13 Norman City Council meeting, urging the city to ...
-
Decline in unions harmful to economy
Editor, The Transcript Remember sometimes you get what your ask for? Let’s see, what could that be? I know, destroy those evil unions which are compromised of the middle class....
-
Independent group needed
Editor, The Transcript: I wanted to write a letter a long time ago, but Ms. Rogers’ letter claiming that “Chromium levels in the water shouldn’t cause alarm” pushed me over the edge. As an environmental professional in Oklahoma, I have ...
-
Obamacare is socialist nightmare
Editor, The Transcript: And now for the rest of the story… “Obamacare, Another Entitlement Nightmare.” The recent St. Louis Post Dispatch editorial reprint illustrates the sophistry that characterizes the liberal mindset now grasping the ...
- More Letters Headlines
-
More government intrusion
