Tulsa World
By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Published: 12/17/2010 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 12/17/2010 6:49 AM
OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Academy is recommending an independent evaluation of the state Tax Commission's collection practices.
The evaluation is aimed at increasing efficiencies and not to assign blame, Julie Knutson, the nonpartisan group's president and CEO, said Thursday at a Capitol news conference.
The city of Tulsa has sued the state to challenge the constitutionality of a law requiring municipalities to use the Tax Commission to collect local sales taxes. Tulsa is investigating the possibility of hiring a private contractor to provide that service.
Cities have complained they are overly dependent on local sales taxes, which have declined, to fund services.
The evaluation recommendation is one among several released by the Oklahoma Academy following a November town hall conference on municipal government.
Tom McKeon, incoming chairman of the Oklahoma Academy and Tulsa Community College president, said municipal government is critically important to the state right now. Knutson said the state "is only as healthy as its municipalities are." FULL ARTICLE
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Fri, December 17, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski