ND taxpayers say government takes advantage of some homeowners
(WDAY TV) - Some North Dakota taxpayers are frustrated. They say local and state governments take advantage of some homeowners. They call property taxes unfair and are now trying to get a measure on the November ballot to get rid of them.By: Travis Skonseng, WDAY
The Empower the Taxpayer group is trying to get about 30 sponsors and 28 thousand signatures. If it does, the issue goes to voters. Valley City homeowner Larry Hetland is angry he's losing more money to the state and local governments.
“It seems every year the value of my house goes up quite a bit.”
Hetland pays about 65 hundred dollars in special assessments and property tax. An amount he says is too high.
“I live on a fixed income and I can't afford for my taxes to keep going higher.”
“The legislature did not fix this problem. They just delayed the pain.”
About 40 people tonight are looking more into a proposal to ban property taxes in North Dakota. The taxes generate about 750 million a year.
“Property taxes can be manipulated by the local government to give certain people benefits, lower taxes, at the expense of other people.”
Ron Almquist with Empower the Taxpayer says that's the case in Valley City where 40 percent of properties aren't paying the tax. He calls it the good old boy system.
“And any town of any size pretty much has that.”
The group says spending is fueling taxation at the expense of homeowners. It says revenue should instead come from the general fund, a sales tax increase or program cuts. That's something Hetland doesn't want to see.
“I don't want to see the school districts suffer.”
South Carolina and Florida are also working to abolish property taxes. For more information or to sign that petition, go to www.empowerthetaxpayer.com.
Tags: travis skonseng, north dakota, valley city, home, news, tax, hetland
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