Property tax increases coming in ND after legislative changes, auditors say
BISMARCK—Officials in the state's largest counties are predicting property tax increases under changes enacted during the most recent legislative session.
But Gov. Doug Burgum said the state is boosting funds for property tax relief and argued the ultimate responsibility for the tax rests with local governments.
The North Dakota Legislature this year eliminated the 12 percent property tax credit and instead implemented a two-year pilot program for the state takeover of county social services costs, suspending county authority to levy 20 mills for those programs.
Proponents said the change, which passed with bipartisan support, created property tax relief and reform while eliminating a "subsidy" for local government spending that continued to grow as the state faced revenue shortfalls. But the pilot program comes with a lighter price tag than the 12 percent buydown, which was created in 2013.
Read more: http://www.inforum.com/4269870-property-tax-increases-coming-nd-after-legislative-changes-auditors-say