By Dave Thompson
Bismarck, ND – North Dakota city and county officials are campaigning against a proposed cap on how much they can raise their property taxes.
The Senate's Finance and Taxation Committee is looking at a bill that imposes a 3.5 percent limit on local property tax revenue increases each year. It's part of a package that contains $117-million in state money for property tax cuts -- and income tax breaks for married couples. But the local property tax limits are getting the most attention.
A number of cap supporters referred to rumblings of a property tax initiative.
"I'm very concerned that if North Dakota should follow what has happened in some other states, the restrictions that would come from an initiated measure could be a lot tougher for political subdivisions than we are dealing with here," said Rep.
Wes Belter (R-Leonard).
"The natives are a little bit upset with property taxes," said Sen. Dwight Cook (R-Mandan). "When they look at their property tax bills, they say it's too much."
Local governments say the caps tie their hands. And they say they're sensitive to what the local taxpayer wants.
"We in the political subdivisions would be voted out quicker than anybody if we went crazy," said McKenzie County commissioner Ron Anderson.
The committee chairman says he will try to work out an acceptable compromise on caps.
Leonard Representative Wes Belter told the committee he's concerned about a potential initiated measure that would put strict caps on property taxes.