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CITY (NewsDakota.com) A spokeswoman for a group that supports Measure Two gave a presentation to the Valley City School board on Monday.
Empower the Taxpayer spokeswoman Charlene Nelson say property tax is the most repressive tax we have today that penalizes the elderly and the poor. She says if the measure passes the state will have to find a funding formula to replace property taxes with other state sources.
North Dakota Education Association Executive Director Greg Burns questioned how the state would come up with a formula fair to everyone and fund services in such a short period of time if the measure passes.
If Measure Two passes in the June Primary Election it would become part of the state constitution. State legislators would have to come up with a new funding formula for School Districts, County Governments, Park boards and nearly two dozen other state agencies.
District 24 legislators Ralph Metcalf and Larry Robinson said no one in state government knows how it would work and both men advocated state property tax reform over several legislative sessions instead of repealing property taxes.
Metcalf said supporters of Measure Two and it will take a number of years to make a new funding formula work if the measure passes. He said the proponents of the measure are making a good effort but no one seems to have any real answers as to how and what state sources would be used to cover the gaps left if property taxes are abolished.
Robinson said the idea that oil revenue would cover the cost of replacing lost property taxes would work today but no one can predict the future of oil revenue in the state. Robinson said back in the 80’s the state was scrambling to make cuts into a number of state services after the oil boom went bust.
