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County staff to follow up on Cox Communications’ 5% franchise-fee offer
Summary
Cox Communications representatives told county staff the company will remit a 5% franchise fee; staff will decide whether to record the revenue in the general fund or create a separate fund and whether a resolution is required to accept ACH payments.
A Cox Communications government-affairs representative has notified county staff that Cox intends to remit a 5% utility franchise fee to Osage County and asked to set up ACH payments, county controller Tony Parrish told commissioners on July 21.
Commissioners and staff discussed whether the revenue should post to the general fund or to a separate subfund for tracking, and whether a resolution would be needed to create a distinct fund. Tony said he will follow up with Becky (treasurer) and Sean (budget preparer) and with Cox to determine accounting best practices and whether a resolution must be drafted; he noted some jurisdictions treat franchise fees as general revenue while others use a separate fund for audit clarity.
Why it matters: A recurring franchise-fee revenue stream would increase county receipts and requires an accounting treatment to ensure proper audit trails and public transparency.
What’s next: Tony will coordinate with the treasurer and county budget staff and report back with a recommendation; commissioners did not take immediate action at the meeting.
