Sheriff Warns of Public Safety Impacts During Legislative Panel

Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane outlines potential consequences of proposed property tax elimination measure

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane joined a panel of educators, county officials, and financial experts at the 2026 County Officers and Deputies Association of Oklahoma (CODA) Legislative Conference to discuss the potential impacts of a proposed statewide ballot measure that would eliminate property taxes in Oklahoma. Lane warned that the loss of property tax funding could devastate public safety services, including the elimination of the Sheriff's Office School Resource Deputy program and a 50% budget cut that would severely limit patrol and investigative capabilities.

Why it matters

The proposed elimination of property taxes in Oklahoma could have far-reaching and unintended consequences for local governments and school districts, impacting critical public services like law enforcement. As a visible and vocal opponent of the measure, Sheriff Lane aims to ensure voters understand the potential public safety risks before the proposal appears on a future statewide ballot.

The details

During the panel discussion, Sheriff Lane outlined how the proposed elimination of property taxes could directly impact the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office. He explained that the loss of property tax funding would mean the end of the department's School Resource Deputy program, which currently provides seven deputies to local schools. Lane also warned that his office could lose roughly 50% of its operational budget, leading to severe staffing and resource reductions that would cripple the department's ability to respond to emergencies and investigate crimes.

  • The panel discussion took place on Thursday at the 2026 CODA Legislative Conference in Norman, Oklahoma.
  • State Question 843, the proposed ballot measure to eliminate property taxes, is expected to appear on a future statewide ballot, though a specific election date has not yet been announced.

The players

Larry Lane

Sequoyah County Sheriff who participated in the panel discussion and warned of the potential public safety impacts of the proposed property tax elimination measure.

Pam Deering

Representative of the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA) who participated in the panel discussion.

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What they’re saying

“People hear the phrase 'eliminate property taxes' and it sounds good on the surface. But the reality is that those dollars are what keep our communities safe. If that funding disappears, services disappear with it.”

— Larry Lane, Sequoyah County Sheriff (viannews.com)

“If SQ 843 passes, our schools simply won't have the money to reimburse us. That means those seven deputies would be pulled out of classrooms and hallways. At a time when school safety is more important than ever, that's a risk I don't think any parent wants to take.”

— Larry Lane, Sequoyah County Sheriff (viannews.com)

What’s next

State Question 843 is expected to appear on a future statewide ballot, though a specific election date has not yet been announced.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential unintended consequences of eliminating property taxes in Oklahoma, with Sheriff Lane warning that the loss of this critical funding source could devastate public safety services and school resource programs across the state. Voters will need to carefully weigh the tradeoffs before deciding the fate of this proposed ballot measure.