Clarification here? If you want clarification of ND property tax, maybe this would answer your question. I own a shade under 50 acres with a home, out buildings and other improvements. My total tax was $550 for 2011. It was spent as follows: County - 42%, Township - 17%, School - 37%, Fire - 2%, Water - 1%, State - 1%.
Next year it is to go up about 50%.
I called the county to find out why such a large increase. They said it was because our property was undervalued.
However, the media is constantly saying the oil boom is coming to our neck of the woods, and our infrastructure is lacking, they want it up to speed before it gets here. I see this as a valid reason for wanting more money. The county needs it for the roads, the schools need to expand.
The oil trucks flat outright ruin roads, and the influx of new folks over crowd the schools.
Because of this, I favor having the excess oil revenue make up the difference. They now have producers less than 10 miles from our home, and one staked off less than 3 miles, and a proposed well less than a mile. The quality of oil coming out of the ground is very close to diesel fuel, so the refinery being built in the state to make mostly diesel.
So I see the need to upgrade our community, but the oil should pay for it.
I agree with you redfreedom.
I grew up smack in the middle of the Bakken Zone.
The scoundrels in Bismarck (and that includes many of the Republicans, right up to and including the governor) are so awash in money that they are beginning to think and act like sheiks: buy, spend, build, promise, dream, party hearty.
If voters keep the property tax (which they probably will, mostly for understandable reasons), then the state and city leaders ought to start windfalling MORE of the oil dollars and devote the rest to necessary and sensible improvements (which they almost certainly won’t).
Bodes ill for the day when the boom goes bust, which they always—ALWAYS—do.