Amendment would abolish ND property taxes, order Legislature to figure out new revenue plan

[The Northerner]

BISMARCK, N.D. — Backers of a constitutional amendment to abolish North Dakota property taxes believe they have enough petition signatures to put the idea on the ballot, even though the number they thought they needed has risen.

The proposed amendment's supporters delivered almost 1,000 petitions, bearing what they said were more than 27,800 names, to Secretary of State Al Jaeger's office on Friday.

Jaeger has until April 29 to review the documents and determine whether there are enough names to qualify for the ballot. If the signature goal is met, the amendment would go to a statewide vote in June 2012.

"It's a new idea. It's something a lot of people hadn't even considered until we put it in front of them," said Charlene Nelson, of Casselton, who is chairwoman of the initiative campaign.

The amendment bars the state and local governments from levying any property tax, beginning on Jan. 1. It says the Legislature must use other revenue sources, such as taxes on sales, income and energy, to decide how to replace the revenue that local governments will lose.

Read more: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/b532a31132f44cd8b999908a10d52370/ND--Abolish-Property-Taxes/

[elleng]

1. Hope people realize they'll have to pay in some form of tax;

ain't no free lunch.

[glinda]

6. No. They will pay with their natural resources and health.

[krispos42]

2. North Dakota... low unemployment and a budget surplus.

And now they're fucking with it.

[aquart]

3. They'll be shocked how quickly it all goes away.

[krispos42]

5. Give the Teabaggers a year.

They'd probably still have low unemployment, but the budget would be slaughtered and social services demolished.

[Historic NY]

4. Dead state .

[glinda]

7. Set up for a dead State.

[onethatcares]

8. since the baggers don't want taxes on income

I guess the only thing left is to tax energy, and after people start using less and less of that due to high taxes on it that plan will collapse.

One question. How are they going to raise funds to pay for their legislators salaries, benefits and offices?

[RickFromMN]

9. Western North Dakota has oil.

Please see http://www.adn.com/2011/01/02/1629025/north-dakota-oil-production-is.html

Oil companies are trying to play North Dakota's "friendly" tax environment against Alaska.
http://www.adn.com/2011/03/07/1742106/oil-tax-burden-creates-a-ripple.html

Silly question...not germane to the original poster, but I'm curious...are most oil producing states Republican?

How can Republicans, in one breath be against transfer of wealth from the rich to the rest of us,
yet advocate taxes on oil when it's to their personal benefit?

[abelenkpe]

10. So property owners

Aka the well to do want to shift tax burden for state away from them and on to everyone else? How nice.