Now that the runoff election results are known, every Oklahoman is looking ahead to November. We must focus on the challenges our citizens are facing and consider how best to address those issues. I have been lucky to meet with many people who have already secured their seat in the 61st Legislature, and I am excited about the caliber of folks we will be welcoming to the Capitol next session.
Based on some local newspaper articles, I would like to share some recent news in HD 59 regarding the implementation of Senate Bill 227, which I opposed but was passed earlier this year. This bill clarifies and ensures equipment involved in oil and gas production is excluded from ad valorem assessments. The estimated loss in total county valuations to Blaine and Kingfisher counties is expected to be $35.7 million and $26.7 million, respectively. However, this does not include the impact of USG closure, which will impact the Canton school district the hardest.
These challenges will be discussed in an upcoming interim study with Rep. Dick Lowe, which will be held in the House Common Education Committee. We have passed several requirements onto schools in the last couple of years, but they are only funded through the state formula. As many of you know, several of our Western Oklahoma schools are off the state funding formula. These additional mandates are pressuring them to the point where they may again return to needing additional funding through the State Department of Education.
Another interim study I will hold will consider 522 emergency district funding and the ongoing challenges to continue providing ambulance services in rural areas. I will also host a study looking at biochar production and its potential to help reduce the number of eastern red cedars in our state while adding carbon back into our soils, as well as investigating the possible management of biosolids within that process.
Additionally, after the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 237 and last month's failure of State Question 844, the House Appropriations and Budget committee will study the status of the manufacturers 5-year property tax exemption, passed in 1985. Our state reimbursement to counties is growing, and there are many solar generation projects and backup energy storage systems poised to capitalize on this incentive in the next several years, to the tune of tens or even hundreds of millions of state tax dollars.
I also plan to attend an interim study on Sept. 8 led by Dr. Carl Newton to discuss our declining water reserves and the industrial and agricultural demands that continue to deplete it. This topic is especially relevant to House District 59 right now, as the Canton Lake Association met with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board on Thursday.
The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust has asked for a release to Lake Hefner, scheduled for Sept. 17. The release will start at 730 cubic feet per second, up to 16,000-acre feet total. The release should take approximately 12-15 days to stabilize both lakes at 5 feet below their normal pool.
I will continue to keep you updated about major takeaways from these studies and any other news related to our water situation. Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns anytime at (405) 5577407 or Mike.Dobrinski@okhouse .gov.
Mike Dobrinski serves District 59 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Dewey and parts of Blaine, Garfield, Kingfisher and Woodward counties