ND House rejects senior tax plan

The North Dakota House has rejected a bill designed to eliminate property taxes for all residents 65 and older.  The measure would have cost the state some $330 million dollars.

Representative Jim Grueneich says the state already has a program designed to help seniors called the Homestead Tax Credit.  “While this is a nice gesture to those 65 and older there are a lot of them quite frankly who don’t need elimination of property taxes.”

Representative Jeff Hoverson says he supports the idea.  “Talk about a group of people who have already paid property tax – I would say as renting their home from the government their whole life.”

Other lawmakers noted that there are several bills coming later in the session that address property taxes. The measure failed on a 67 to 25 vote.