Property tax initiative

During the NDFB 71st annual meeting, held Nov. 22-23, in Bismarck, delegates directed the organization to move forward with an initiated measure to reform property taxes in North Dakota.

The initiated measure on property tax reform was to include four major elements:

1. Change all reference of mills to dollars per thousand dollars of taxable valuation.

2. Require baseline budgeting political subdivisions, with approval for budget increases approved by voters on a biennial basis.

3. Establish a fund through which a property tax credit will be paid to the political subdivisions against a reduction in the taxable valuation of property; and

4. Consolidate tax levies.

Although the idea had widespread support, some parts of the plan could not be enacted through the measure process. As a result, a meeting of county Farm Bureau presidents was held to determine if a petition drive should still be considered. The county presidents indicated they would rather not move forward, and the NDFB Board of Directors voted, in late January, to put the idea on hold.