Despite a sharp economic downturn here and across the nation, many Cleveland County residents will be receiving notices showing that their property taxes are increasing.

Cleveland County Assessor David Tinsley is sending out about 60,000 notices that show property tax increases, with the first batch being mailed Friday and Saturday.

Several notices reflect a 5 percent hike due to increases in property values.

This first mailing will include residents who live in the Norman and Noble school districts. Also included will be many property owners in the Moore school district.

About 75 percent of these property taxes collected by the county go to local schools.

The second batch of tax notices will be mailed in early March to other county residents including those in Lexington.

These property tax hikes have pitted Republicans against Republicans, both at the state and local levels.

Republican Tinsley said the state constitution states that he must raise ad valorem (property) taxes each year until assessment of properties including homes and businesses match the market value of nearby properties.

"I am only following the law," Tinsley said.

"Our charge is to assess properties at market value," Tinsley said. In 1996, the people voted to limit those increases to a maximum of 5 percent annually, until the assessments reach fair market value.

Fellow Republican Bobby Cleveland said he doesn't think the law compels assessors to raise taxes each year.

"This tax increase is simply wrong," said Cleveland, who is county Republican Party chairman.

This is occurring despite an economic downturn here and across the nation, Cleveland said.

Cleveland's reading of the law is that assessors have the option of raising taxes, provided they do not go up by more than 5 percent a year.

Cleveland is mayor of Slaughterville and his son, Rod Cleveland, serves as a Cleveland County commissioner, although he said his views reflect only his personal opinion.