Letter to the editor: North Dakotans definitely need property tax relief

There is opposition to Measure 2 to give the people of North Dakota tax relief through a possible income tax cut and opponents to the measure say if it passes there is no chance of property tax relief. Why not?

I don’t see a measure on this election ballot offering property tax relief. When will it happen, four years from now? Eight years from now, if ever?

When was the last time our politicians voted down a pay raise for themselves? North Dakotans need a pay raise. Since it is not coming through higher wages and salaries what other way are they going to get it? Keep working two and three jobs? It’s a fact if you put more money in people’s pockets they’ll spend it which will generate tax revenue.

It is obvious North Dakotans have been overtaxed when you have a treasury department boasting about a $1 billion plus surplus in tax revenue and wonder what to do with it. The right thing to do is give it back. What do you think would happen if you went to a bank to cash a $1,000 check and they gave you $10,000 and you kept it? You’d get jail time. Over charging taxes is wrong.

Why should a $170,000 house in Jamestown, North Dakota have property taxes of nearly $4,000? It is absurd. Jamestown ranks among one of the highest property-taxed cities in the U.S. You can compare similar-sized communities in the U.S. and Jamestown is one of the highest. Why? If the response is, “we needed a new school,” give me a break. We have a shrinking school age population?

Now there is talk of a new hospital and a library. Who’s going to pay for that?

Isn’t there a balance between the number of people living in a community and a cost to maintain the infrastructure? Why do cities of comparable population have lower property taxes?

Someone should start housing developments in Eldridge, Spiritwood and Buchanan. People could afford to pay for the gas to drive 10 to 15 minutes to work from the savings on property taxes and special assessments.

Let’s see some kind of financial relief and more money in North Dakotan’s pockets. Give us the opportunity to vote for a property tax deduction. “Yes” vote from me.

Brent Schulz

Jamestown

Tags: property taxes, measure 2, taxes