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Can property be fairly assessed in small cities?

The 2020 U. S. Census will once again report that the small cities in North Dakota are declining in population. Even before the new census figures were verified, the 2019 estimates indicated that the state had 218 cities with populations under 250 and 132 with populations of less than 100. As the population declines, so does economic vitality. Retail establishments in most small cities have disappeared; schools and churches have consolidated, the road out of town well-worn and property dropping in value. Assessors have three basic methods for determining property value – ...

Join us June 26 as we focus on our future

The flood of 2011 unleashed a spirit and a determination unlike anything our community has ever seen. Ten years later, those feelings are still evident. In 2011, throughout Minot, residents with space in their garage or basement stored items for those who were forced by a rampaging river to evacuate from their homes. If someone needed help moving items or cleaning up their property, a simple request brought help. Friends and neighbors helped each other. Total strangers went out of their way to help in any way they could, without a need for public praise or a desire to get credit or be ...

College enrollments continue declining

According to the National Student Clearinghouse, enrollment in higher education institutions continue to decline, dropping 5% this spring. The 5% represents 725,000 fewer students. According to the National Center of Educational Statistics, the average number of students for each faculty member is 16. There isn’t an institution in North Dakota with that low of a student/faculty ratio. If the figures have any credibility, the 725,000 student drop represents a large number of faculty salaries no longer flowing through local economies. Small College Salaries Faculty salaries are ...

Latest events show why NAWS is so important

No doubt most folks in Minot are aware of the temporary water usage restrictions implemented by the City of Minot a week ago after four City wells were offline due to mechanical issues and scheduled maintenance. We appreciate that customers curtailed their outdoor water usage enough to allow the City’s water reservoirs to be refilled. The cooperation from users reduced the overall demand for water, and helped the system provide enough water for essential uses while equipment was under repair. Those repairs have been made and the affected wells were scheduled to be back online by this ...

Need a bigger view for legacy fund

While other armchair quarterbacks are surveying the work of the 2021 legislative session, the three most significant acts include $700 million in bonding for infrastructure, $70 million for “career academies” to expanded instruction in technical skills and statutory authority for using the $8 billion Legacy Fund for some investing in North Dakota. The career academies will welcome employees in dying industries, reach for students whose skills don’t fit in the 4-year universities, and offer employment opportunities for nonworking adults. Half the Job But just offering the ...

United States has outgrown Federalism

When the Articles of Confederation proved inadequate for dealing with the critical problems left after the 1783 armistice with England, the leading colonists advocated a national meeting of colonial delegates to amend the Articles. After several years of jerks and starts, the 1787 convention came to order and 55 delegates worked through the steamy Philadelphia summer to negotiate solutions for the weaknesses of the Confederation. Horse-and-Buggy Government The creation of federalism by granting specific powers to the federal government and reserving all other powers to the states ...