House votes to remove UND medical school property tax levy

BISMARCK — A decision that might amend the state Structure and take away a statewide, one-mill property tax for the UND medical faculty handed the North Dakota Home 53-34 on Thursday, March 23.

The one-mill levy generates round $11 million every biennium for the medical faculty, which relies in Grand Forks. The varsity’s finances is round $246 million.

As a result of the decision would change the North Dakota Structure, it could require voter approval earlier than going into impact. The decision was amended to enter impact after Dec. 31, 2026, if permitted by voters.

Supporters say the decision is a matter of tax coverage and there’s no intention to defund the medical faculty, however quite to shift the supply of funding from property taxes to the overall fund.

“It has nothing to do with any adverse emotions towards the medical faculty in any respect, and the intent of all of the sponsors of the decision is that funding stays complete,” Sen. Jordan Kannianen, R-Stanley, mentioned earlier this month.

Rep. Jared Hagert, R-Emerado, mentioned the decision provides the following legislative meeting sufficient time to determine the proper funding supply shifting ahead. He added the medical faculty has been supportive of the decision, particularly with the added modification.

These against the decision imagine the tax levy, the one statewide property tax, helps fund coaching for North Dakota’s well being care trade.

Rep. Jon Nelson, R-Rugby, mentioned the mill levy has been “very profitable” over the previous 20 years in producing prime quality specialists for the state’s well being care trade.

“It should be straightforward to say ‘let’s management our property tax and this one mill,’ ” he mentioned. “… It’s a lottery ticket that we give to the medical faculty, each citizen in North Dakota, for high quality well being care. I do not imagine that’s asking an excessive amount of.”

There have been seven members who didn’t vote. Due to the modification, the decision will head again to the Senate.