Read the Fine Print: Why I'm Voting No on State Question 847
State Question 847 changes our state Constitution. What will it cost? Read the fine print. The official ballot title says it plainly: "the exact impact is unknown."
And yet it's being sold as property tax relief. When most folks hear "tax relief," they assume it means a tax cut. Let's be clear. SQ 847 does not cut your property taxes. Not a single penny.
What SQ 847 actually does
Right now, the Oklahoma Constitution limits how fast the taxable value of your home can grow: no more than 3% a year for homesteads and farmland, and 5% for other property.
SQ 847 lowers those caps to 1.75% for homesteads and farmland and 4% for other property, starting in 2027. Your tax bill still goes up. It just goes up a little slower.
How much slower? On a $150,000 home in Oklahoma County, the difference is about $25 in the first year, and about $1,600 over ten years. That's less than a $5 cup of coffee once a week. On a $1 million home, it's about $170 the first year and nearly $11,000 over ten years. The bigger your home's value, the bigger the break.
Who pays the price
Property taxes are local. They fund your sheriff, your firefighters, your library and your schools.
Think of it this way. Imagine your boss told you five years ago that your annual raise would be capped at 1.75%. Forever. In those same five years, prices went up 22%. That's what SQ 847 does to the people who keep your community running. When the budget can't keep up with inflation, something has to give.
Here's a local example. In August, Del City voters approved a bond that included a new fire engine, about $1.5 million to replace a 2013 engine with more than 9,000 engine hours, and a new $300,000 brush and rescue truck. Oklahoma cities can't use property taxes for day-to-day operations. That money repays voter-approved bonds like this one. Under SQ 847, the same tax rate raises less money over time. So down the road, a city might have to choose: the fire engine or the brush truck. Not both.
What about seniors?
If you're 65 or older and your household income is at or below your county's median, Oklahoma already freezes the taxable value of your home. SQ 847 keeps that freeze. What it adds is a new, smaller cap for seniors with incomes above the median. The seniors who need help most already have it.
An unknown cost, locked into the Constitution
I'm a pay-your-bills guy. I voted no on SJR 39, the resolution that put SQ 847 on your ballot, and I'm voting no on November 3rd.
Locking an unknown cost into the Constitution isn't fiscal responsibility. It's fiscal malpractice. And because it's in the Constitution, the only way to fix it is another statewide vote.
Relief on the label. Grief in the fine print.
Read the fine print, and vote no on State Question 847.
Know someone who thinks SQ 847 is a tax cut? Send them this.
Frequently asked questions
Does SQ 847 lower my property tax bill? No. It slows how fast your home's taxable value can grow. Your bill can still rise every year.
When is the vote? Tuesday, November 3, 2026. If it passes, the new caps start with the 2027 tax year.
What does it cost? The official ballot title says the measure "would have a fiscal impact on the state, but the exact impact is unknown."
How were the $25 and $170 figures calculated? They compare a home's taxable value growing at today's 3% cap vs. SQ 847's 1.75% cap, using Oklahoma County's average of 122.9 mills and an 11% assessment ratio, and assuming market values rise at least 3% a year. If values grow more slowly, the difference is smaller.
Sources
State Question 847 official ballot title, Oklahoma Secretary of State
Oklahoma lawmakers target property tax relief with ballot measure, The Bond Buyer, May 26, 2026
Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (CPI-U, August 2021 to August 2026: +22.4%)
Del City voters to decide on $3M bond, Midwest City Beacon, Aug. 20, 2026
State Question 847: Changing assessment caps for property tax, Oklahoma Policy Institute
