Excise Board approves county appropriations for 2015-16

The Logan County Excise Board met Wednesday morning on the first day of the county’s fiscal year.

Guthrie News Page has the meeting on video and can be viewed at the conclusion of this article.

All three members (Marilyn Branch, Kenny Davis and Dan Ladd) were present, along with County Clerk Troy Cole, for the 41-minute meeting inside the Courthouse Annex building.

By statute, the board appointed a chairman and a vice-chairman on or before July 1. Ladd nominated Davis for the chairman position and Branch for the vice chair. Both were unanimously (3-0) approved.

The board also unanimously approved the following:

– Minutes for the June 2 and 24 meetings

– Application for temporary appropriations for General Fund and Health Fund for fiscal year (FY) 2015-16.

– Applications for temporary appropriations for Coyle, Crescent, Guthrie and Mulhall-Orlando schools for FY 2015-16

– Cash Fund appropriations into various cash accounts

– Transfer of appropriations from FY 2014-15 to 2015-16 within various accounts

– Transfer of appropriations within various accounts

– Special Estimate of Needs of $15,600 for Logan County Fire Departments

About the Excise Board

The Excise Board oversees and reviews all county, school district and city budgets to determine if they are legally and adequately funded with the revenues available. Specifically, the Board reviews and approves the County budget, fixes the annual tax levy and millage rates and gives public notice that the budget and tax levies are open to public discussion.

In addition to meeting to approve the budget and tax rates, the Excise Board meets as required during the year to review and approve other mid-year budget-related actions, such as supplemental appropriations.

The excise board is comprised of three positions in the county. The District Judge appoints the District One position (Davis), the Oklahoma Tax Commission/State Senator appoints District Two (Branch) and the Board of County Commissioners appoints District 3 (Ladd).