Steven Moen, Minot

When I hear people asking questions “how is the state going to pay the local subdivisions their portion of their budget once property tax is repealed, especially during an economic downturn,” I am flabbergasted. They are more interested in the government’s well being than the tax paying citizens who will be going through this same downturn.

As it stands now with property tax the taxpayers will be hit twice with the downturn because the local subdivisions will raise property tax to cover all shortfalls that threaten to impede their runaway budgets. At least with eliminating property tax the taxpayers won’t be living under the never ending threat of losing their homes.

This hits the less fortunate taxpayers worse than the wealthy ones; the wealthy can deal with the loss of one income better than the less fortunate people living on fixed incomes. People whose budgets are tight with two incomes can become devastated when one income disappears. It’s time to put the needs of the taxpayers ahead of the government. We’re not slaves. We’re citizens. How far we’ve fallen since 1776!

In 1972, I joined the Navy, I swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the US against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Today most enemies are in our governments but eliminating property tax is a good way to start getting our country and freedom back! Even Jesus condemned the Pharisees for devouring widows’ houses Luke 20:47, yet some of our politicians are OK with it!