There are two points of view when it comes to economic development policies which include tax exemptions. Critics say that by exempting certain businesses or properties from taxes narrows the overall tax base, putting upward pressure on the taxes levied on everyone else not exempted. Proponents argue that the exemptions spur development which wouldn’t happen…
Don’t Let Local Property Tax Hikes Be Automatic
“City property taxes are going to go up.” That’s what Blake Crosby, executive director of the North Dakota League of Cities, told me during a radio interview this week. His argument is that lawmakers dabbled in property tax policy, implementing buy downs of local property taxes funded by statewide surpluses, but did so without an…
Audio: Cities Representative Said Legislature Had No “Exit Strategy” From Property Tax Buydowns
“City property taxes are going to go up.” That’s what Blake Crosby, executive director of the North Dakota League of Cities, told me on air yesterday. “It depends on the particular city,” he added, “but generally speaking yes they’re going to have to.” He blamed the Legislature for the increases. He said that state lawmakers…
Governor Burgum: Everyone Wants Lower Taxes “as Long as It Doesn’t Mean Cuts in Government Jobs in Their Location”
I had Governor Doug Burgum on my radio show on Friday and we talked about property taxes and the push for health policy reform in Washington D.C. (more on those things in a moment), but the most interesting things he had to say were about higher education I think. I flagged some of Burgum’s comments…
Senator Jessica Unruh: Permanent Property Tax Reform Is What’s Best for North Dakotans
This session, the state of North Dakota continued in its efforts to keep property taxes and basic services local while providing substantial permanent relief to taxpayers and reform to the system. In recent years, state programs like the 12% property tax buy-down have been highly publicized, but only provided short-term relief to property taxpayers in…
The Idea That North Dakota Republicans Cut Taxes for the Oil Industry Is Fake News
For years now, since the policy passed during the 2015 legislative session, North Dakota Democrats and their mouthpieces have been braying about how Republicans cut taxes for the oil industry. As is often the case, a lie repeated often enough begins to be perceived as the truth. So now thanks to a steady stream of…
Not a Single Member of the North Dakota Senate Voted to Cap Property Taxes Yesterday
Last week the state House passed HB1361 by a wide margin, 58-32. The aim of the bill was to protect taxpayers from property tax hikes. The Legislature, which has in the past worked to push down property taxes by buying up local spending, can no longer afford the buy downs. While the state is taking…
House Passes Bill Capping Property Taxes, Will Senate Follow Suit?
I’ve been writing recently about the political risk property taxes represent for North Dakota’s Republicans in the upcoming election. While this legislative session has seen a lot of budget headaches most North Dakotans aren’t going to feel much in pain. Thus, the political ramifications for the cuts are pretty minor I think. But property taxes…
Audio: Activist Says People Are Calling for Another Push to Abolish Property Taxes
Back during the 2012 election cycle North Dakota had a bit of a political brawl over the issue of property taxes. On one side were activists – like Charlene Nelson, my guest today on the radio – who argued that the property tax is inefficient and fundamentally unfair and ought to be abolished. On the…
North Dakotans Should Expect a Property Tax Hike in 2018
“I guess it’s maybe time for a reality check here,” House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-Fargo) said during a floor debate yesterday over SB2206. That legislation deals with the state’s take over of county-level social services. The local governments have been agitating for that take over for some time arguing, correctly, that they amount to…
