The Woods County Equalization Board met Tuesday morning to consider four requests for Freeport Exemptions. Oklahoma Freeport Exemptions are available for inventories held for less than nine months. They are calculated using purchases for Oklahoma inventory and sales from Oklahoma inventory.

Chairman Joe Shirley opened the meeting with board members Chris Olson and Bob Seivert present. Also at the meeting were County Assessor Renetta Benson and County Clerk Shelley Reed.

Benson said that Value Added Products had turned in paperwork showing they are eligible for an exemption of $148,660, which amounts to a tax reduction of a little over $1,000. She said VAP has applied for and been granted a Freeport Exemption for many years. The board approved that exemption.

Baker Petrolite LLC, which makes chemicals and other products for the oilfield, applied for an exemption of $170,015, which would reduce their taxes by about $1,600. The board approved the exemption as they have in previous years.

Cargill Incorporated applied for an exemption of $2.5 million. They make agricultural salt products. Benson said they have also received this exemption in past years. The board approved the Cargill exemption.

The final application was from Black Hill Service Company for gas and storage in the amount of $16,200. Benson said the board has not approved this Freeport Exemption in the past due to court rulings. Shirley made a motion, seconded by Olson, to disapprove this request, and the motion passed unanimously.

The board also approved a motion to extend the equalization board session through June or as long as needed at the request of Benson.

Woods County Excise Board

The same board members met Tuesday as the Woods County Excise Board. The following monthly appropriations were approved: District #1 $124,331.50; District #2 $123,831.44; District #3 $124,821.33; CBRI D#1 $13,406.83; CBRI D#2 $13,406.86; CBRI D#3 $13,406.87; Enhanced 911 $35,805.30; Assessor’s Fee $538.00; County Clerk’s Lien Fee $4,424.87; County Clerk’s Preservation Fee $2,110.00; Court Clerk Salary $8,605.60; Treasurer Resale $4,588.53; Sheriff Commissary $36.38; Sheriff’s Service Fee & CHS $8,085.66; Mortgage Tax $65.00; PSC of OK/Donations $1,000.00; Federal Rescue Plan Act of 2021 $13,191.50; Local Assistance & Tribal Consist $846.58; Court Clerk RM & Preservation $449.75; Mechanic Lien Cash Bond $4.21.

The board acknowledged the transfer from Highway CIRB to Highway Personal Services in the amount of $13,660.08 each for districts 1 and 2.

The board approved the transfer from the Rural Fire REAP Fund to the General Building Fund for the Freedom Fire Department grant in the amount of $50,317 and for the Greenleaf Fire Department grant in the amount of $53,411 for a total of $103,728 due to the grant reimbursement by OEDA.