Within fifteen (15) days after the filing of any school district budget with the county excise board of each county in which the school district is located and with the State Auditor and Inspector, any taxpayer may file protests with the State Auditor and Inspector against any alleged illegality of the budget in the manner provided by this section and Sections 3023 through 3031 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The fifteen-day protest period begins upon the date the budget is received in the Office of the State Auditor and Inspector as filed by the county excise board. After receipt of a taxpayer protest, the State Auditor and Inspector shall transmit by certified mail one copy of each protest to the clerk of the board of education, and one copy of each protest to the school district treasurer and the excise board of each county in which the school district is located. The taxpayer protest shall specify the alleged illegality in the budget and the grounds upon which the alleged illegality is based. Any protest filed by any taxpayer shall inure to the benefit of all taxpayers. If no protest is filed by any taxpayer within the fifteen-day period, the budget and any appropriations thereof shall be deemed legal and final until amended by the governing body or the county excise board as authorized by law. Taxpayers shall have the right at all reasonable times to examine the budget on file with the clerk of the board of education, the county excise board, or the State Auditor and Inspector for the purpose of checking illegalities in the budget or for filing protests in accordance with this section and Sections 3023 through 3031 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 1996, c. 178, § 8, eff. July 1, 1996.