Letter to the editor: Ending property taxes will take senior programs’ funds

AARP North Dakota is among a large group of associations, businesses and individuals opposing Measure 2 on the June primary election ballot.

AARP joined the Keep It Local North Dakota coalition opposing this constitutional measure because passage of this flawed proposal has the potential to impact numerous services provided by local units of government. Those include emergency services such as police, fire and ambulance.

If Measure 2 passes, it will also significantly impact meal programs, transit services and other services that thousands of older North Dakotans depend upon every day.

In North Dakota, 51 of 53 counties have a senior mill levy. These funds, along with the state match to county dollars, are used to support the required 15 percent match to Older Americans Act federal funds. County dollars also help provider agencies meet the additional costs not covered by federal or state funding.

The loss of county mill levy funds would be devastating to congregate- and home-delivered meal programs, health services, outreach services and transit services in North Dakota. In addition, county mill levy dollars are used to help senior centers in the state remain open. The senior centers are vital because a majority of senior services are provided at these facilities.

Finally, there is no proof that older North Dakotans are being driven from their homes because of property taxes. In fact, the North Dakota Association of Counties conducted a survey of county auditors from 2010 and determined no older person was foreclosed upon. Low-income seniors and low-income people of any age with disabilities are already eligible for the Homestead Tax Credit. If they have household incomes below $18,000, the taxable value of their homes is reduced 100 percent, up to $4,500.

AARP believes that taxes should be fair and balanced and that tax policy should be made by elected officials and not locked into our state’s constitution. If Measure 2 passes, we will also eliminate the flexibility we currently have to deal with local emergencies and needs. Once it’s in the constitution, it would be very difficult to change.

We understand that property taxes can be a burden, especially to people living on fixed incomes. However, Measure 2 is not the solution. Instead, it will create new problems even more difficult to solve.

Janis Cheney

Bismarck

(Cheney is state director of AARP North Dakota)

Tags: measure 2, opinion, letters