Tulsa County Republican Party

For four decades, Oklahoma has maintained a five-year property tax exemption for qualifying manufacturers as an economic development tool. In exchange, the Constitution has required the state to reimburse schools, counties, cities, vocational-technical centers, and other local entities for the full revenue they forgo.

SQ 844 would replace that clear constitutional guarantee with broad legislative authority to set “levels and methodologies” of reimbursement. Future Legislatures could reduce, alter, or effectively eliminate reimbursements without returning to the voters. The ballot language itself acknowledges a fiscal impact that depends entirely on whatever rules lawmakers later adopt.

A NO vote protects the existing constitutional commitment. Local communities that host manufacturing facilities should not be forced to absorb the financial risk of state-level incentives. School districts, counties, and emergency services rely on predictable funding. Removing the full-reimbursement requirement introduces uncertainty into budgets that serve students, law enforcement, and public infrastructure. Economic development and strong local institutions are not mutually exclusive; Oklahoma can and should pursue both without shifting costs onto the very communities expected to benefit. The Constitution should continue to guarantee that local governments are made whole rather than leaving the outcome to shifting political priorities.