North Dakota
North Dakota property tax reform group touts progress on forcing statewide vote
BISMARCK — A group that wants to end taxes based on property value in North Dakota announced Thursday, Jan. 18, it has more than half of the signatures it needs to put the issue to a statewide vote.
Former legislator Rick Becker is leading the sponsoring committee called End Unfair Property Tax. The group will gather signatures in an attempt to get the citizen-initiated measure on the November ballot.
The sponsoring committee has until late June to gather 31,164 signatures. In an interview, Becker said the group has been gathering signatures since July and has more than half the signatures it needs.
The group also is touting support from 18 conservative state legislators, five legislative candidates and several former lawmakers.
“This measure ensures that the abundant revenue the state of North Dakota receives translates to tremendous tax relief, while ensuring that cities, counties, and school districts retain complete control of their budgets and finances,” Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, said in a statement.
The full language of the measure and the title can be found on the group’s website,
endpropertytax.com,
under the “about” tab.
Becker, a Bismarck Republican who used to lead a far-right faction of the state Legislature, said local governments would be reimbursed by the state to cover what they currently collect in property taxes.
If a political subdivision decided it needed more revenue, Becker said that subdivision could still choose to levy a fee or tax on property owners based on factors such as parcel size, road frontage and the size and type of buildings on the property. But taxes could not be based on assessed value.
He argues that will give local governments more options than they have now. Becker said the state will continue to have plenty of revenue, especially if it gets spending under control.
Opponents including the North Dakota Association of Counties question how the property tax revenue would be replaced.
“Although the potential measure states the lost revenue would be replaced by State dollars, it is unclear where the legislature would find the required dollars,” the association said in a resolution. “More concerning though is without a local funding mechanism, political subdivisions would be reliant on the State Legislature’s funding decisions on a two-year basis. This association supports keeping property tax as a tool in the toolbox to adequately fund local services.”
A ballot measure in 2012 to end property taxes failed at the polls. Becker said the new version does a better job of ensuring local control.
Becker said the ballot measure is an entirely volunteer effort.
This story was originally published on NorthDakotaMonitor.com
Submitted Photo
U.S. soldiers with the Nebraska and North Dakota National Guards, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, pose for a group photo at a hotel in Alexandria, Virginia, April 28. N.D. National Guard 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, front row, far left, served as the officer in charge of the mission when soldiers assigned to JTF-DC responded to the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner April 25. About 2,500 National Guard members are supporting the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of residents, commuters and visitors throughout the District. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Norris.
WASHINGTON – U.S. soldiers with the North Dakota, Arkansas and Nebraska Army National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, responded to a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner (WHCAD) at the Washington Hilton in Northwest Washington April 25.
The Guardsmen were at the WHCAD at the request of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) as an additional patrol unit created specifically for the event, which celebrates the contribution of news organizations and independent journalists alike who provide notable coverage relating to the presidential administration.
“Our mission was to assist the U.S. Secret Service with crowd control,” said Capt. Kevin Peatrowsky, an operations officer with the Nebraska National Guard (NENG) assigned to JTF-DC.
As the Guardsmen were monitoring their area of operations, they saw USSS agents sprint toward the hotel entrance.
“They were running full speed with their weapons drawn,” said Sgt. 1st. Class Allen Haney, a team member with the Arkansas National Guard. “We immediately followed suit.”
Staff Sgt. Kirsten Confer, a NENG combat medic and battle captain, recalled her response to the incident: “We fell back on our basic training. You run toward danger and move in a way that makes sense for the situation.”
According to Confer, the Guardsmen entered the hotel and immediately began securing the scene and ensured that the guests evacuated safely. At the direction of a federal agent, Confer began a rapid trauma assessment on the suspect which resulted in finding knives and ammunition on the shooter. Simultaneously, the Arkansas soldiers moved outside to provide crowd control at a pedestrian barricade outside the hotel.
“From there, we assisted wherever we could,” said 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, a National Guardsman from North Dakota who served as the officer in charge for the mission. “We were initially helping with crowd control. After that, we realized that the USSS had begun rerouting everyone in the hotel, so we moved to the doors. We were controlling entry into the venue, so we had moved a couple more people outside, so we had five inside, eight outside.” Both Arkansas and Nebraska worked well alongside one another and, alongside the federal agencies. Hill also noted that relying on his soldiers allowed him to move to different teams, which helped allow him to plan and coordinate with different agencies.
According to 1st Lt. Jonathan Goins, a platoon leader with the Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas soldiers also helped establish a security perimeter for the staging of the presidential motorcade. Later, the team assisted federal agencies and MPD with crowd control, which helped clear the way for the president and administration officials, he said.
“Guardsmen on this mission represent the very best of the nation,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II, the interim commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. “The world got a brief glimpse, but I see them each day serving and doing amazing things across the District.”
FARGO, N.D. (KELO) — The Sioux Falls Stampede staved off elimination with a 2-1 overtime win over the Fargo Force in game four of the USHL Western Conference Finals Saturday night.
Thomas Zocco scored the game-winner 12 minutes into the extra period. Arseni Marchenko put Fargo on the board first in the first period. Noah Mannausau tied the game for the Herd in the second period.
Sioux Falls outshot Fargo 53-49, including 9-5 in overtime. Linards Feldbergs made 48 saves.
Three of the four games of the series have gone to overtime. The winner-take-all game five is Tuesday at the Premier Center.
New ballot measure guide to be mailed to North Dakota voters ahead of election
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