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Empower the Taxpayer Chairwoman Charlene Nelson on why North Dakota should end its property tax and how the state’s government would make up for tha...
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A recent energy -- sending North Dakota residents to the polls today.
Voting -- whether to eliminate property taxes think about that eliminate property taxes.
The last time -- -- got rid of -- major tax was way back in 1980 when Alaska eliminated its income tax joining me now.
The woman who's leading the tax reform effort Shirley Nelson chairwoman of empower the tax -- Shelling out welcome to the state I shall I've got to tell you and I don't know anybody.
I don't know anybody who owns a home who would like to see their real estate taxes go down.
Tell me why you make that you think it makes sense that North Dakota abolishes its property tax.
Well because North Dakota needs to diversify its economy.
Right now our state really relies on oil and and agriculture.
And those are very volatile.
Industries and very subject to market forces.
So we -- used to boom and bust cycles and those just aren't healthy for our state.
Right now we have a tremendous surplus in our state revenues.
And it's time that those -- -- bad that those surpluses go back to their citizens and let us keep our homes.
Surely I hear what you're saying and but isn't that boom and bust cycle of gas which is absolutely true.
Isn't -- an argument for having property taxes because.
Property taxes are more evenly.
You know distributed.
I mean they come and they go out -- like clockwork.
Yeah.
Right and when you say that attacks a stable.
What's -- saying -- is that we should that the government should maintain its level of spending.
Despite the impact it has on families.
And we believe it should be just the opposite that if there's belt tightening to go on it should be the government that -- it belt.
Before their families are forced you.
Now you say if this that real estate tax was repeal that would mean -- an immediate 4005000.
Dollar savings for a lot of families across your stake.
And at that money would go right back into the economy.
Do you see a big boost for North Dakota if this passes tonight.
We do we see a lot of economic.
Advantages to this.
And also this measure prioritize suspending it mandates that our legislature.
-- K through twelve education and local government services first.
Before they look a special interest spending.
And it also I -- a lot more -- flexibility to local governments on how they.
Will do their budgets so we just see a lot of benefits all across the board.
Huge turnout expected for this it's gonna be fascinating to see what happens people are predicting all kinds -- results there.
But I wouldn't -- talked to me a little bit about.
What's gonna make up that 800 million or so.
In taxes that normally wouldn't com.
From property taxes is and the revenues from taxes on oil and gas and up.
Well just the revenues the surplus revenues right now in sales tax alone.
We don't have to touch the oil in the gas revenues.
In this last year and 2012.
Sales revenues sales tax revenues are expected to be double what they were in 2011 and that all by itself.
More than covers the 810.
Million -- The property tax brings in well it do you think you're gonna win tonight I I understand we get a pretty early reading on this election.
Yeah I'm you know we've had tremendous support around the state this is truly -- -- grassroots effort.
At its very foundation.
And certainly we have a lot of popular.
Support behind this and we'll just have to see how what happens tonight.
Right North Dakota poised to be the first state to eliminate property taxes.
You get -- rush of people coming in from New York let me tell -- new York New Jersey where their high profit -- -- -- the live there.
Shirley thanks for coming on tonight good luck and we will follow -- outdoor ice -- up up up.
Thank you.
