{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-19-19-8.4","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 19, § 19-8.4","heading":"Provisions of charter","body":"A. A charter shall set forth the structure of the county\n\ngovernment and the manner in which it is to function. The charter\n\nmay provide for a governing body, which may be other than as\n\npresently constituted, which shall be elective, and service shall be\n\nupon the qualifications, terms, plan of representation and\n\nconditions of tenure and compensation as may be fixed by the\n\ncharter. The term for service of the governing body shall not\n\nexceed four (4) years. In addition to the powers and duties\n\nprovided by the charter, the governing body shall exercise all\n\npowers, and discharge all duties which, in the absence of the\n\nprovisions of said charter, would devolve by law to the board of\n\ncounty commissioners or any other county governmental board, agency,\n\ncommission or council. Said charter may provide for the\n\norganization, reorganization, establishment and administration of\n\nthe government of the county, including the control and regulations\n\nof the performance of and the compensation for all duties required\n\nin the conduct of county affairs. The charter may authorize the\n\ngoverning body to create or consolidate any county office,\n\ndepartment or agency, define the duties thereof, fix the\n\ncompensation for service therein, make the same elective or\n\nappointive, and prescribe the time, qualifications and conditions of\n\ntenure in any such county office, department or agency.\n\nB. Any county electing to operate pursuant to such charter as\n\nauthorized by the provisions of this act shall have the power by\n\ncharter provision to levy, assess and collect taxes pursuant to the\n\nprovisions of Section 20 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution.\n\nThe limit of the aggregate taxes which may be levied, assessed and\n\ncollected by such county shall not exceed the limit or total fixed,\n\nor hereafter fixed, by the Oklahoma Constitution or by statute.\n\nC. In addition to the powers herein provided and in addition to\n\npowers included in County Home Rule Charters, any county may amend\n\nits charter to include powers, functions and duties which may be\n\nprovided for by the Oklahoma Constitution or by statute.\n\nD. Any county operating pursuant to such charter as authorized\n\nby the provisions of this act shall have the power to borrow money\n\nfor all lawful purposes under its charter, including the refunding\n\nof a lawful debt, in a manner conforming to the Oklahoma\n\nConstitution and the general laws of the state, and may issue\n\nobligations for such purposes. Such obligations and such tax to be\n\nlevied to meet said liability shall not be valid unless authorized\n\nby a vote of the registered voters of the county pursuant to the\n\nprovisions of the laws of this state. County obligations maturing\n\nafter a period of five (5) years shall be issued to mature serially,\n\nfixing the first maturity of principal at a time not to exceed two\n\n(2) years after the date of the issuance of such obligations. The\n\nobligations may pledge the full faith and credit of the county, but\n\nin no event shall the aggregate obligations so issued, in principal\n\namount outstanding at any one time, exceed the constitutional limits\n\nfor such obligations and indebtedness and its supporting tax shall\n\nconstitute a first and superior lien upon the property taxable in\n\nsuch county.\n\nE. Charters adopted shall make appropriate provisions for the\n\nabandonment, revocation and amendment of such charter, subject only\n\nto the requirement that a majority of the registered voters of the\n\ncounty must approve such proposal. The provisions of the County\n\nHome Rule Charter Act shall be self-executing.","path":["OK Code","Title 19"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os19.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"ebb0cbd4841c33c2958af7680a648564f2dda1da84073c0d1334618c361d01c2","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-19-19-8.3","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-19-19-8.5"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}