(Source : KFOR) Several families in Shawnee are being forced to make tough decisions as they confront a dramatic 500% increase in land lease fees set to take effect in January. The families, who have leased property from the Commissioners of the Land Office (CLO) near Shawnee Twin Lakes, received letters in November informing them that their annual lease fees would skyrocket, potentially pushing them into financial ruin.
One of the affected residents, Josh Clark, has lived on a piece of land along the Twin Lakes for nearly seven years, purchasing a home on the property in 2018. For years, Clark had enjoyed the serene lakeside life, recalling fond memories of growing up near the lake and his grandfather’s house. However, the letter he received from CLO on November 5 left him stunned.
“When I opened it up, I said, ‘We’re moving. We can’t afford it,’” Clark said, referring to the lease fee increase.
Clark’s annual rental fee for his 1.5-acre property, which had been $1,600 when he first moved in, is set to jump from $2,700 to a staggering $18,000 in January 2025. This massive increase, which would be added to his mortgage, could potentially ruin his finances. “I could be financially ruined, either incurring too much debt or unable to take on that debt and be stuck with the mortgage and eventually bankruptcy,” Clark said.
In 2022, Clark and several other families were given the option to purchase their land at the appraised value, which at the time was around $115,000. However, Clark felt that the purchase option was not financially feasible, especially with the land’s appraisal now set to exceed $150,000 in 2025.
Clark, who chose to continue leasing rather than purchasing the land, believes the steep price increase is an attempt by CLO to push families off the land. “They’re trying to force our hand out of it rather than holding on to the precedents of slight increases,” he said.
CLO has responded to the outcry by offering families the option to pay the increased lease fee in monthly installments of $1,500. However, the substantial hike remains a major burden for residents. CLO also announced that during a board meeting on December 4, they will request a delay on the rate increase for the coming year, giving families more time to make decisions.
The five commissioners who will decide the fate of the lease fee increase include Governor Kevin Stitt, Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, State Superintendent Ryan Walters, State Auditor Cindy Byrd, and Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur. The public meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Governor’s large conference room at the State Capitol.
As the January deadline approaches, families like Clark’s are left to grapple with the reality of a potentially devastating financial decision. Whether the board will intervene to halt the rate hike remains uncertain, but for now, many residents are faced with an impossible choice: move or risk financial collapse.
