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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION 3 By: Kirt
AS INTRODUCED
A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State
to refer to the people fo r their approval or
rejection a proposed amend ment to Section 26 of
Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution; reducing the
threshold to approve school district indebtedness;
updating constitutional referen ce; providing ballot
title; and directing filing.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENA TE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
1ST SESSION OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1. The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for
their approval or rejection, as and in the mann er provided by law,
the following proposed amendment to Section 26 of Article X of the
Oklahoma Constitution to read as follows:
Section 26. (a) Except as herein otherwise provided, no
county, city, town, township, school district, or other political
corporation, or subdivision of the state , shall be allowed to become
indebted, in any manner, or for any purpose, to an amount exceed ing,
in any year, the income and revenue provided for such year without
the assent of three-fifths of the voters thereof of the county,
city, town, township, or othe r political corporation or subdivision
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of the state or the assent of a majority of the voters of the school
district, voting at an election, to be held for that purpose, nor,
in cases requiring such assent, shall any indeb tedness be allowed to
be incurred to an amount, including existing indebtedness, in the
aggregate exceeding five percent (5%) of the valuation of the
taxable property therein, to be ascerta ined from the last assessment
for state and county purposes previou s to the incurring of such
indebtedness: Provided, that if a school district ha s an absolute
need therefor, such district ma y, with the assent of th ree-fifths of
the voters thereof voting at an election to be held for that
purpose, incur indebtedness to a n amount, including existing
indebtedness, in the aggregate exceeding five perce nt (5%) but not
exceeding ten percent (10%) o f the valuation of the t axable property
therein, to be ascertain ed from the last assessment for state and
county purposes previous to the incurring of such indebtedn ess, for
the purpose of acquiring or improving school sites, constructing,
repairing, remodeling or equipping buildings, or acquiring school
furniture, fixtures, or equipment; and such assent to such
indebtedness shall be deemed to be a sufficient showing of such
absolute need, unless otherwise provid ed by law. Provided further,
that if a city or town has an absolute n eed therefor, such city or
town may, with the assent of three -fifths of the voters thereof
voting at an election to be held for that purpose , incur
indebtedness to an amount, including e xisting indebtedness, in the
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aggregate exceeding five percent (5%) but not exceeding ten percent
(10%) of the valuation of the taxable property therein, to be
ascertained from the last assessment for state and county purposes
previous to the incurring of s uch indebtedness, and such assent to
such indebtedness shall be deemed to be a sufficient showing of such
absolute need unless otherwise provided by law. Provided, further,
that any county, city, town, school district, or other political
corporation, or subdivision of the state , incurring any indebt edness
requiring the assent of the voters as aforesaid , shall, before or at
the time of doing so, provide for the collection of an annual tax
sufficient to pay the i nterest on such indebtedness as it falls due,
and also to constitute a sinking fund for the payment of the
principal thereof within twenty -five (25) years from the time of
contracting the same, and provided further that no thing in this
section shall preven t, under such conditions and limitations as
shall be prescribed by law, any school district from contracting
with:
(1) certificated personnel for periods e xtending one (1) year
beyond the current fiscal year; or
(2) a school superintendent for periods ex tending more than one
(1) year, but not to exc eed three (3) years beyond the current
fiscal year.
(b) If a county approves an exemption of household goods of the
heads of families and livestock employed in support of the family
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from ad valorem taxation pu rsuant to the provisions of subsection
(b) B of Section 6 of this article, the percentage lim itations on
indebtedness as specified in subsection (a) of this s ection for
political subdivisions or political corporations loca ted in any such
county shall be adju sted by multiplying the percentage levels
specified in subsection (a) of this section by th e millage
adjustment factor as specified in subsection (b) of Sec tion 8A of
this article.
(c) If approved by the people, the ame ndment to this section
shall become effective January 1, 1993.
SECTION 2. The Ballot Title for the propo sed Constitutional
amendment as set forth in SECTION 1 of this resolution shall be in
the following form:
BALLOT TITLE
Legislative Referendum No. ____ State Question No. _ ___
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
This measure amends Section 26 of Article 10 of the Oklahoma
Constitution. This measure would allow a school district to
become indebted upon approval of a m ajority of the voters of the
school district, rathe r than the approval of three-fifths of the
voters of the school district.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO _____________
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SECTION 3. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shal l,
immediately after the passage of this resolution, prepare and file
one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in SECTION 2
hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney
General.
59-1-1415 EB 1/3/2023 1:01:16 PM