Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Is plan too good to be true?

Is plan too good to be true?

Sep 29, 2006 - 02:07:26 CDT

By LOUISE POTTER
Grand Forks

I have been thinking about the proposal Republicans are calling “The North Dakota Property Tax Relief Act of 2007.” I have been pleading for a reduction in property taxes for at least 10 years, and I was actually able to reduce the Grand Forks Schools mill levy when I served as president of the school board from 1998 to 2000. If talking about a spending bill that will have to pass both houses of the North Dakota legislature next year will get the job done, then by all means let the conversation continue. But I was worried that the 10 percent reduction the Republicans are touting would turn out to be an eye-poppingly large number. And it is.

Gov. John Hoeven’s campaign manager, who was recently appointed as our state tax commissioner, puts the number at $116 million (letter to the editor, Sept. 24). I don’t know if the Republicans intend their tax break as a one-time giveaway or as a program that will continue in the future, but I have a hard time believing that the Republicans I know in the North Dakota House would ever consider approving that much money to be spent in one place. My grandmother used to tell me that whenever something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

I am afraid that the Tax Relief Bill of 2007 is destined to become the great campaign promise of 2006. That’s because no one has done the hard work of governance in developing this idea. The reason property taxes are too high in North Dakota is that for 15 years the people who brought us this promise of tax relief have defended an unconstitutional scheme of education finance and allowed the state’s share of education spending to decline in every biennium that I can remember. The only solution to this problem is to wrestle with the thorny issues of how much does it really cost to educate our children and how should that cost be shared between the state and its 117 school districts? I don’t expect to see any kind of meaningful and stable reduction in property taxes until those questions have been asked and answered.

We live in a democracy, which means we deserve the governments we elect. I hope the voters in District 17 will elect candidates who believe in the idea of government and are willing to do the hard work good government demands. And I hope we are not being suckered by a property tax relief bill that will turn out to be too good to be true.

(Rep. “Weezie” Potter, a Democrat, represents District 17 in the Legislature. — Editor)

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Comments

KC wrote on Sep 29, 2006 3:13 PM:

" Barney come on I expect more out of you. You have always tried to add something intellectual to the debate, guess not today. And to retort to your point, there has never been a letter from a Republican critical of Democrats. And even you must admit that Fong is riding Hoeven's coat tails and he flip flopped on his position on property taxes. All the while Brent Edison has been touting his plan to bring equity in school funding over the long term and to also use the surplus to give property tax relief. "

dante wrote on Sep 29, 2006 2:48 PM:

" barney...are you bush's dog? "

Barney wrote on Sep 29, 2006 1:09 PM:

" Imagine that - a letter from a Democrat being critical - go figure "

NDr wrote on Sep 29, 2006 8:55 AM:

" Personally, I'd like to see ND pay off all it's long term obligations. You know the loans that it takes out when it builds buildings and other infrastructure. By paying off these debts, it would decrease the amount of taxes required for future operations. Afterall, let's face it, this is one or two time money. If you decrease taxes, then in slower economic years when people need government's help, there won't be the needed income to support those needs. Also, if there's to be a property tax relief, it should be done somewhat similar to Minnesota's. Tax relief should go to those people who live and work in ND, not out of state land/property owners who do very little to support out government and the people's needs. But first, let's be prudent with our money and pay of our debts. "

Beesh wrote on Sep 29, 2006 8:34 AM:

" Weezie? Mmmmovin' on UP, to the eastside..... "

WHATEVER wrote on Sep 29, 2006 7:45 AM:

" Well put, and if the past is any indicator of the future, Republicans are indeed just using this issue as a campaign tactic to maintain their one-party control of North Dakota. Their real agenda is to legislate our sex lives and religious beliefs. They couldn't care less about education, in fact a poor education system works to their advantage. A poorly educated public is a very brainwashable public and more likely to vote Republican. "

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