Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oklahoma County Board of Equalization elects leaders, adopts agenda and voting procedures for 2025
Summary
At its Jan. 27, 2025 meeting the Oklahoma County Board of Equalization elected Eleanor Thompson chair and Brett Towne vice chair for 2025, approved minutes and adopted two procedural policies: an agenda-approval step and roll-call voting on agenda items to enable the assessor's office to use electronic signatures for determination letters.
Eleanor Thompson was elected chair and Brett Towne was elected vice chair of the Oklahoma County Board of Equalization during the board’s regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, which began at 10 a.m.
The board also approved the minutes of its July 31, 2024 meeting and adopted two changes to its meeting procedures: a formal agenda-approval item immediately after minutes and a requirement that votes on agenda items be recorded by roll call. The board discussed keeping a separate weekly "decision day" to consider matters heard during the week rather than making decisions the same day as hearings.
The board members said the procedural changes are intended to streamline handling a large appeals caseload and to enable the assessor’s office to use an electronic-signature process for decision letters. "68 Oklahoma statute section 2863 both provides and dictates that the Oklahoma County Board of Equalization commence its sessions on the 4th Monday of January and shall endeavor to complete our business," the chair said when calling the meeting to order.
Board members unanimously approved the policies after discussion. The roll-call votes on motions recorded the three members as voting yes: Chair Eleanor Thompson, Vice Chair Brett Towne and Member Theresa Sellers.
Board members also confirmed that the board will continue the practice of holding a separate decision day later in the week for considering and signing determination letters, citing the volume of cases that prevents signing all documents immediately after hearings. A participant cautioned that members should avoid substantive conversations outside the public meeting prior to votes, noting open-meeting rules.
The board adjourned after completing the agenda.
The actions taken were procedural and administrative; no changes to state law or tax policy were made at the meeting.
