A State Senate committee is looking at a proposal to allow a local school district to levy a sales tax for building projects – if 60 percent of the voters approve.
The effort came from Williston – where voters overwhelmingly turned down a 55-million dollar bond issue for two new school buildings. Williston School Superintendent Viola LaFontaine told the Senate Education Committee – people in Williston did not want to pay more in property taxes. But she says a number of people have told her they would support a sales tax.
"The ability to use a sales tax is an avenue schools in the state need to help to build schools," said LaFontaine.
Ray School Superintendent Ben Schafer told the committee he thinks a sales tax would be fairer. He says his concern is over people who aren’t paying anything.
"The taco bus that parks in Ray and does business and doesn't pay taxes," said Schafer. "The people living in campers in farmyards that nobodyknws about, that send children to our school but don't pay taxes. Those people are using our services, and those people aren't giving anything back to the community. I want to give my voters a chance to get those people involved."
The lone opponent to testify was Mandan Resident Susan Beehler. She was part of the effort to get a property tax elimination measure passed in 2012.
"So here we're sitting with a budget surplus, and yet you're saying that we as taxpayers should be willing to pay more," said Beehler. "That's not fair."
The committee chairman -- Sen. Tim Flakoll (R-Fargo) -- says he, too, has some concerns about the measure.
"You know, we're kind of in a mindset to reduce taxes," said Flakoll. "And I think that's where some of the hesitancy goes. On the one hand, we're really trying to push down property taxes, and we just don't want it to balloon up in another area."
The committee has not taken action on the bill.
