Oklahoma Code § 19-8.4

Title 19. Counties And County Officers: Provisions of charter
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
A.  A charter shall set forth the structure of the county
government and the manner in which it is to function.  The charter
may provide for a governing body, which may be other than as
presently constituted, which shall be elective, and service shall be
upon the qualifications, terms, plan of representation and
conditions of tenure and compensation as may be fixed by the
charter.  The term for service of the governing body shall not
exceed four (4) years.  In addition to the powers and duties
provided by the charter, the governing body shall exercise all
powers, and discharge all duties which, in the absence of the
provisions of said charter, would devolve by law to the board of
county commissioners or any other county governmental board, agency,
commission or council.  Said charter may provide for the
organization, reorganization, establishment and administration of
the government of the county, including the control and regulations
of the performance of and the compensation for all duties required
in the conduct of county affairs.  The charter may authorize the
governing body to create or consolidate any county office,
department or agency, define the duties thereof, fix the
compensation for service therein, make the same elective or
appointive, and prescribe the time, qualifications and conditions of
tenure in any such county office, department or agency.
B.  Any county electing to operate pursuant to such charter as
authorized by the provisions of this act shall have the power by
charter provision to levy, assess and collect taxes pursuant to the
provisions of Section 20 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution.
The limit of the aggregate taxes which may be levied, assessed and
collected by such county shall not exceed the limit or total fixed,
or hereafter fixed, by the Oklahoma Constitution or by statute.
C.  In addition to the powers herein provided and in addition to
powers included in County Home Rule Charters, any county may amend
its charter to include powers, functions and duties which may be
provided for by the Oklahoma Constitution or by statute.
D.  Any county operating pursuant to such charter as authorized
by the provisions of this act shall have the power to borrow money
for all lawful purposes under its charter, including the refunding
of a lawful debt, in a manner conforming to the Oklahoma
Constitution and the general laws of the state, and may issue
obligations for such purposes.  Such obligations and such tax to be
levied to meet said liability shall not be valid unless authorized
by a vote of the registered voters of the county pursuant to the
provisions of the laws of this state.  County obligations maturing
after a period of five (5) years shall be issued to mature serially,
fixing the first maturity of principal at a time not to exceed two
(2) years after the date of the issuance of such obligations.  The
obligations may pledge the full faith and credit of the county, but

in no event shall the aggregate obligations so issued, in principal
amount outstanding at any one time, exceed the constitutional limits
for such obligations and indebtedness and its supporting tax shall
constitute a first and superior lien upon the property taxable in
such county.
E.  Charters adopted shall make appropriate provisions for the
abandonment, revocation and amendment of such charter, subject only
to the requirement that a majority of the registered voters of the
county must approve such proposal.  The provisions of the County
Home Rule Charter Act shall be self-executing.

‹ Prev All Oklahoma sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.