Property Taxes Take Center Stage in Bismarck

Although a November ballot measure to eliminate property taxes failed, discussions around reform are expected to take center stage during the North Dakota legislative session. “Nobody wants to pay taxes, but how do you pay for the goods and services that the citizens still demand? That’s a tough nut to crack.”, said Pete Hanebutt, public policy director, NDFB. “Our legislature has tried to solve that problem for years and it never seems to go away.  I think most of it is a local spending problem.”  Governor Kelly Armstrong has identified property tax reform as one of his administration’s top priorities and numerous bills about the topic have been introduced.