managing editor

Possible effects of privatizing Altus Air Force Base housing was discussed at Monday night’s regular meeting of the Altus School Board. Superintendent Bob Drury said he was most concerned about the impact privatizing could have on federal Impact Aid money received by the district.

“I was first informed that the property would go on the tax rolls,” Drury said. “Then the assessor’s office said it would be taxed as personal property.”

Drury said he was then in contact with the Department of Education and the Department of Defense.

“They couldn’t give me any firm statement that would or would not determine what would happen after the lease,” he said. “But after contacting Sen. Bob Kerr and state Rep. David Braddock, I was informed by the Department of Education that the lease would not affect payments as long as the government retained ownership of the land.”

Braddock was on hand for the meeting and addressed the board.

“We will continue to work with the school system on this vital issue,” he said. “There needs to be a meeting of local, state and federal officials to help sort out the details of the effects of the privatization of base housing.”

Drury said that he may just be hollering “the sky is falling,” but that he is just concerned about losing the Impact Aid. Impact Aid is money that is paid to the school district in lieu of the ad valorem property taxes on federal property, which is exempt from the local taxes.

“Ultimately, attorneys will have to review the matter,” Drury said.