§ 68-1370. County sales tax - Notice of rate change - Exemptions - Duration – Voting and elections for a levy.

A.  Any county of this state may levy a sales tax of not to exceed two percent (2%) upon the gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales or services in the county upon which a consumer’s sales tax is levied by this state.  Before a sales tax may be levied by the county, the imposition of the tax shall first be approved by a majority of the registered voters of the county voting thereon at a special election called by the board of county commissioners or by initiative petition signed by not less than five percent (5%) of the registered voters of the county who were registered at the time of the last general election.  However, if a majority of the registered voters of a county voting fail to approve such a tax, the board of county commissioners shall not call another special election for such purpose for six (6) months.  Any sales tax approved by the registered voters of a county shall be applicable only when the point of sale is within the territorial limits of such county.  Any sales tax levied or any change in the rate of a sales tax levied pursuant to the provisions of this section shall become effective on the first day of the calendar quarter following approval by the voters of the county unless another effective date, which shall also be on the first day of a calendar quarter, is specified in the ordinance or resolution levying the sales tax or changing the rate of sales tax.

B.  The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall give notice to all vendors of a rate change at least sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of the rate change.  Provided, for purchases from printed catalogs wherein the purchaser computed the tax based upon local tax rates published in the catalog, the rate change shall not be effective until the first day of a calendar quarter after a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) days’ notice to vendors.  Failure to give notice as required by this section shall delay the effective date of the rate change to the first day of the next calendar quarter.

C.  Initiative petitions calling for a special election concerning county sales tax proposals shall be in accordance with Sections 2, 3, 3.1, 6, 18 and 24 of Title 34 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  Petitions shall be submitted to the office of county clerk for approval as to form prior to circulation.  Following approval, the petitioner shall have ninety (90) days to secure the required signatures.  After securing the requisite number of signatures, the petitioner shall submit the petition and signatures to the county clerk.  Following the verification of signatures, the county clerk shall present the petition to the board of county commissioners.  The special election shall be held within sixty (60) days of receiving the petition.  The ballot title presented to the voters at the special election shall be identical to the ballot as presented in the initiative petition.

D.  Subject to the provisions of Section 1357.10 of this title, all items that are exempt from the state sales tax shall be exempt from any sales tax levied by a county.

E.  Any sales tax which may be levied by a county shall be designated for a particular purpose.  Such purposes may include, but are not limited to, projects owned by the state, any agency or instrumentality thereof, the county and/or any political subdivision located in whole or in part within such county, regional development, economic development, common education, general operations, capital improvements, county roads, weather modification or any other purpose deemed, by a majority vote of the county commissioners or as stated by initiative petition, to be necessary to promote safety, security and the general well-being of the people, including any authorized purpose pursuant to the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act.  The county shall identify the purpose of the sales tax when it is presented to the voters pursuant to the provisions of subsection A of this section.  Except as otherwise provided in this section and except as required by the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act, the proceeds of any sales tax levied by a county shall be deposited in the general revenue or sales tax revolving fund of the county and shall be used only for the purpose for which such sales tax was designated.  If the proceeds of any sales tax levied by a county pursuant to this section are pledged for the purpose of retiring indebtedness incurred for the specific purpose for which the sales tax is imposed, the sales tax shall not be repealed until such time as the indebtedness is retired.  However, in no event shall the life of the tax be extended beyond the duration approved by the voters of the county.

F.  1.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, any county that has approved a sales tax for the construction, support or operation of a county hospital may continue to collect such tax if such hospital is subsequently sold.  Such collection shall only continue if the county remains indebted for the past construction, support or operation of such hospital.  The collection may continue only until the debt is repaid or for the stated term of the sales tax, whichever period is shorter.

2.  If the construction, support or operation of a hospital is funded through the levy of a county sales tax pursuant to this section and such hospital is subsequently sold, the county levying the tax may dissolve the governing board of such hospital following the sale.  Upon the sale of the hospital and dissolution of any governing board, the county is relieved of any future liability for the operation of such hospital.

G.  Proceeds from any sales tax levied that is designated to be used solely by the sheriff for the operation of the office of sheriff shall be placed in the special revenue account of the sheriff.

H.  The life of the tax could be limited or unlimited in duration.  The county shall identify the duration of the tax when it is presented to the voters pursuant to the provisions of subsections A and C of this section.  The maximum duration of a levy imposed pursuant to Section 14 of this act shall be no longer than allowed pursuant to the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act.

I.  Except for the levies imposed pursuant to Section 14 of this act, there are hereby created one or more county sales tax revolving funds in each county which levies a sales tax under this section if any or all of the proceeds of such tax are not to be deposited in the general revenue fund of the county or comply with the provisions of subsection G of this section.  Each such revolving fund shall be designated for a particular purpose and shall consist of all monies generated by such sales tax which are designated for such purpose.  Monies in such funds shall only be expended for the purposes specifically designated as required by this section.  A county sales tax revolving fund shall be a continuing fund not subject to fiscal year limitations.

J.  In the case of a levy submitted for voter approval pursuant to Section 14 of this act, taxes levied by a county shall not become valid until the ordinance or resolution setting the rate of the levy shall have been approved by a majority vote of the registered voters of each such county voting on such question at a special election.  Elections conducted pursuant to questions submitted pursuant to Section 14 of this act shall be conducted on the same date or in a sequence that provides that the last vote required for approval by all participating counties or municipalities occurs not later than thirty (30) days after the date upon which the first vote occurs.

Added by Laws 1983, c. 8, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.  Amended by Laws 1983, c. 275, § 9, operative Jan. 1, 1984; Laws 1985, c. 1, § 1, emerg. eff. Feb. 4, 1985; Laws 1985, c. 167, § 1, emerg. eff. June 18, 1985; Laws 1993, c. 319, § 1, emerg. eff. June 7, 1993; Laws 1994, c. 159, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 1994, c. 303, § 1, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 1996, c. 228, § 1, emerg. eff. May 23, 1996; Laws 1998, c. 301, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 1998; Laws 2001, c. 23, § 1, emerg. eff. April 3, 2001; Laws 2002, c. 381, § 5, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2003, c. 472, § 18; Laws 2004, c. 5, § 75, emerg. eff. March 1, 2004; Laws 2004, c. 103, § 1, emerg. eff. April 14, 2004; Laws 2004, c. 317, § 1, emerg. eff. May 19, 2004; Laws 2007, c. 136, § 4, eff. July 1, 2007; Laws 2009, c. 309, § 17, eff. July 1, 2009.

Note

NOTE:  Laws 2003, c. 413, § 16 repealed by Laws 2004, c. 5, § 76, emerg. eff. March 1, 2004.