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Ending property taxes would help struggling residents

Connie Samuelson, Minot What is our breaking point? Many ND residents are struggling financially. We hear daily about associations, foundations and organizations assisting in gathering essentials during these inflationary times. For years, school supply drives have helped parents prepare their children for school. The Backpack Program offers families with free groceries over weekends and school breaks. A growing number of students qualify for free and reduced meals. Several schools now have pantries where students can get food, school supplies, personal hygiene and ...

Remember 2012 in November

Steve Moen, Minot In 2012 eliminating property tax failed, largely because of all the misinformation put out by people scared of change. How did that work out for you? My property tax doubled. For some it tripled and even quadrupled! This was after the politicians promised to fix and lower it. The state pumped in $1 billion plus and it still went up. They’re promising the same this time. During the same time frame our state budget went from $4 billion to $19 billion. The money is there. Politicians are saying the state buy down is probably going away, which would raise our property ...

Vote ‘no’ on property tax measure

Brenda Seehafer, Rolla Vote “NO” on the ballot measure proposing the elimination of property taxes! This measure affects everyone in every community in the great state of North Dakota. We all use local public services: whether it is the roads we travel on, the schools our children attend, accessing the local fire department or the local police department, water maintenance, going to the public library, the list goes on. The State of North Dakota would need to come up with $1.329 billion per year to cover the lost revenue from property taxes to fund the essential services like ...

Property tax measure needed to end state overspending

Connie Samuelson, Minot Over the past 4 years North Dakotans’ struggled through inflation while our ND State Legislative Assembly (NDSLA) increased their spending from $14.3B to $19.5B. Their general fund spending has increased from $4.9 billion to $6.1 billion. Factoring in population growth and inflation, this is $2 billion more spending per year than should be spent. The Legacy Fund has ballooned to $10.55 billion and the Common School Trust Fund is holding more than $6.8 billion. Currently a homeowner pays $4,500 in property tax for a $250,000 home. Under the current system ...

Be wary of Riverview Dairy

Karen Anderson, Warwick There is a history of Confined Animal Feeding Operations ruining the environment in many states. The new Riverview Dairy operations set to enter the Eastern part of ND near Hillsboro and Wahpeton should be looked at through the eyes of how we want our livestock industry to expand. Twenty-five thousand confined dairy cows is huge. Yes, they have state of the art waste disposal systems – or do they? What about flooding? Not unheard of in the Red River Valley. Additionally, the water required for these animals may seem fine but what about in a drought? Do you ...

Protect essential services by voting ‘no’

Ken Wangen, Carrington I’m urging you to vote ‘no’ this November on the ballot measure proposing the elimination of property taxes. My impetus for writing? A recent incident that clearly outlines the necessity for maintaining local control with property taxes. In the early hours of July 5, 2024, 29 rail cars carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire about nine miles southeast of Carrington, where I serve as fire chief. The hazardous materials, including anhydrous ammonia, posed a significant risk to people in and around Carrington and Bordulac, but our rapid ...