Lianne Zeltinger , Minot

For the last few days, I have been collecting signatures for the initiated measure to eliminate property tax for the citizens of North Dakota. This past Sunday I was at the Food Truck Festival. I want to thank everyone who signed the petition or politely declined and/or engaged in dialogue. Did you know that North Dakota is the ONLY state in the Union that can afford to eliminate property tax? We have fracking to thank for that, not the prudent actions of elected officials.

In 2024 we will once again be given the opportunity to vote to eliminate this tax, but with a new twist. Eliminating property tax does NOT mean loss of money or reduction in the budgets for cities, counties, schools, park districts or other political subdivisions.

What is the new twist? This is a constitutional measure. Our legislators will be required to fund future budgets for all of the other political subdivisions with whatever amount they set for their 2024 budget. Not surprisingly, the state coffers can easily handle that tab, in full. The other requirement is these subdivisions will no longer be able to “back fill” by raising revenue through levying of any tax on the assessed value of real or personal property (Section 1 of Article X of the Constitution of North Dakota proposed amendment) as has been done in the past.

This measure also protects the bond indebtedness already in place. That is actually a “legal contract” that must be paid and is a separate issue.

Did you know that our legislators have spent $9 billion over the past 10 years in property tax reduction? Have your property taxes gone down? Has your rent gone down? Did you know they gave many tax breaks this past session for natural gas, Renaissance Zones and certain grain elevators, but voted down eliminating property tax for seniors, voted down tax credits for school choice, voted down capping at 5%/year, voted down lowering the value of assessment by which someone must be notified of the change in property tax, voted down a freeze on taxes for seniors and more. Not one tax break for the citizens of North Dakota. Well, except for reducing property by $500 each year for TWO years on an individual’s primary residence. But – and there is a but – in order to qualify for that reduction, homeowners must apply and be approved by their county auditor. The legislators also set aside $1.2 million to cover the cost of the increased paperwork, rather than automatically giving every homeowner the reduction.

For those who strongly support paying property tax, I have to ask if you are willingly paying more than what the state demands of you? I ask this of the few who proudly stated they pay their taxes. I, too, pay the full amount of all my taxes. No honor in that. It is either that or lose my home.

We, the citizens of North Dakota, have this rare opportunity to protect the property of every property owner when we vote to eliminate property tax in 2024. People will no longer lose their home because they can’t pay that property tax that continues to increase year after year while their income remains stagnant or is being eaten up by inflation.

There is much more information available on this issue at endpropertytax.com. However you decide to vote, I do hope you do your due diligence and become an informed voter.