A Word From the President
Thank you for visiting Fargo-Moorhead Area Association of
REALTORS® website.
If you haven’t heard of Constitutional Measure 2, you will hear a lot about it
in the next few months.
Constitutional Measure 2, the elimination of property
taxes in North Dakota, is going to be on the ballot
June 12th.
We, as a REALTOR® Association,
strongly
oppose Constitutional Measure 2 and urge you
to vote
NO on June 12,
2012.
BECAUSE:
15 Minutes every 2 years: The ND legislature
meets 80 days every 2 years. If the Constitutional Measure 2 passes, 2100
entities from across the state will be battling for funding. That gives the
legislature 15 minutes to decide the fate of these communities for the next 22
months unless the legislature has a special session---AT A COST OF
$50,000 PER DAY.
Special Assessments will stay: Constitutional
Measure 2 will ONLY abolish property taxes. Special Assessments can still be
assessed on property owners without a public vote.
Out-of-state landowners gain the most:
In 2010, nonresident
property owners paid $126.8 million in property taxes—16.7% of total property
tax paid for 2010.
North Dakota residents will have to foot the bill
if this passes with the
raising of other taxes and fees that affect everyone in the state.
The elderly and veterans are NOT being forced from their homes:
In North Dakota, in 2010, 99% of all property tax foreclosures were on
undeveloped land/vacant property. In 2010 there were 8 occupied home
foreclosures due to property tax delinquency. NONE of the residents were
elderly.
Property taxes work locally: Property taxes account for 41% of county revenues. By abolishing
property taxes, expenses will need to be covered by other revenue sources that
are not guaranteed in Constitutional Measure 2 (sales tax, income tax, car
licensing—to name a few).
Oil & gas extraction taxes are not permanent funding:
The proponents are banking that the oil will last forever. Do you want to
gamble your future and your child’s future on something that could be gone
tomorrow?
Constitutional Measure 2 changes the State Constitution:
If
this passes, did you know that the
legislature cannot repeal or amend the measure for 7 years,
except by a 2/3 vote of BOTH houses.
North Dakota is a strong
state and is envied by many other states. If Constitutional Measure 2 is the
“save all”, than why aren’t the struggling states doing this?
Many people think as a REALTOR® Association we would be behind
this measure, but we, as REALTORS®, are concerned about the future of our
communities and our state. That is why we are voting NO.
Please join us on
June 12th
and:
VOTE
NO ON MEASURE 2!!
Thank you,
Todd Anhorn
Click here for the Coalition's Official Website
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