A. Each year the board shall levy an assessment sufficient to raise the annual interest on the outstanding bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, and, in addition thereto, an amount equal to the amount of the bonds to be retired in said year or the installment of principal to be amortized during said year.

B. 1. Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the board shall also levy an annual assessment sufficient to care for the cost of operation of the district and the maintenance of the fire department and its equipment, and for payment of salaries of the officers and employees of the district, provided, that no such annual assessment for operation, maintenance, and salaries shall exceed seven (7) mills on the dollar of assessed value of the property in the district.

2. The board may levy an assessment over seven (7) mills but not to exceed ten (10) mills upon approval for such at an election held at such time and in such manner as provided by Section 901.5 of this title for election of board members.

3. If a county approves an exemption of household goods of the heads of families and livestock employed in support of the family pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of Section 6 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution, the millage rate of any levy authorized by this section for the property located in a fire protection district which is in such county shall be adjusted by the millage adjustment factor set forth in subsection (b) of Section 8A of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution.

C. All assessments levied under the authority of Sections 901.1 through 901.50 of this title, shall be a lien against the tract of land on which they have been levied, until paid, and said lien shall be coequal with the lien of ad valorem and other taxes, including special assessments, and prior and superior to all other liens.

Added by Laws 1949, p. 158, § 19. Amended by Laws 1951, p. 47, § 2; Laws 1979, c. 168, § 3, emerg. eff. May 15, 1979; Laws 1988, c. 162, § 157, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; Laws 1989, c. 222, § 1, operative July 1, 1989; Laws 1997, c. 221, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 358, § 1, emerg. eff. June 8, 1998.