OKLAHOMA CITY -- Former House Speaker Lance Cargill is planning to mail out 6,000 letters -- at state expense -- to apologize to his constituents for failing to pay his taxes on time.
Bulk mailing through the House costs 22 cents per letter, so the cost of mailing Cargill's 6,000 copies would be $1,320.
House Chief of Staff Chad Warmington said Friday that it was Cargill's decision to send the letters through the House mail room. They hadn't been mailed Friday because a postage machine was broken.
In a copy of the letter obtained by the Tulsa World, Cargill said when he got busy with House leadership duties, "regrettably, I often put my personal business and finances on the back burner."
"As a result, I was late in paying the property taxes on my law office and also allowed state income tax extensions to lapse," the letter states.Warmington has advised members in a memo that their House mailings "should focus on your role as a lawmaker, share information about the Legislature with constituents and provide public policy updates."
Warmington said he does not review the letters before they are mailed.
In late January, Cargill and four other lawmakers were informed by the Oklahoma Tax Commission that they had not filed their returns on time.
Although Cargill's filings were late for two years, he has noted that he ended up receiving refunds.
In addition, Cargill, R-Harrah, was late six years in a row in paying the property taxes on his Harrah law office.
Cargill's letter states, "my property taxes, although late, were always paid in addition to late penalty fines and inter est."
Taxes on his office were about $700 annually, and he paid penalties totaling $562.44, according to Oklahoma County Treasurer Butch Freeman.
After news stories about his tax problems appeared, Cargill stepped aside as speaker.
In the letter, Cargill also said, "This was irresponsible and I am deeply sorry I allowed it to happen."
Although copies of the letter were printed on House equipment, the stationery apparently was supplied by Cargill and had a notation at the bottom saying the state had not paid for the stationery.
The stationery with the letterhead "Office of the Speaker" apparently was left over from Cargill's tenure as speaker of the House. He resigned the post on Jan. 28.
Cargill could not be reached for comment Friday.
The other lawmakers who did not have major leadership positions say they have taken care of their late tax filings.
Mick Hinton (405) 528-2465
mick.hinton@tulsaworld.com
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