ND League of Cities reject property tax measure

The North Dakota League of Cities is on record opposing the proposed initiated Constitutional measure to eliminate property taxes.

The initiative is authored by former Republican Representative Rick Becker of Bismarck. It would replace the property tax with state funding.

League president Todd Feland of Grand Forks says property taxes provide substantial funding for general fund budgets.  “General funds are generally public safety – police and fire.”

Feland says it’s estimated that the state Legislature would have to appropriate $1.2 billion to replace the property tax…  “That’s a significant amount amount and I don’t think the state has a plan to fill that gap – not only once but to continue to fill that gap.”

Becker needs more than 31,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

NDPPR/KNOX