North Dakota: No more property taxes!

[TonySutton]

<snip> the hard part is convincing them that government doesn't need the money in the first place and the services that would be cut or 'suffer' can be eliminated or funded though alternative means. that's when i get the eye rolls.

This is the one thing I LIKE about sales tax. If all taxes were abolished and replaced by a sales tax, people would see the full cost of government every time they make a purchase.

I would like to see gas taxes itemized on receipts and displayed prominently on every pump.

I would like to see cigarette and liquor taxes itemized on receipts and displayed prominently at the merchandise.

 

[jmdrake]

?

Your joke is silly because according to 2 recent polls, less people like the idea than before

The May 3rd through May 8th poll showed that 26% of people supported ended property taxes in ND and replacing them with higher sales and income taxes. The newest poll showed that only 21% of people supported ended property taxes in ND and replacing them with higher sales and income taxes. I don't know why less people support the centralization of the funding of the ND now then did a few weeks ago. Any idea?

Probably the deal breaker is the increase in sales and income tax.

 

[TonySutton]

Probably the deal breaker is the increase in sales and income tax.

The thing that kills me is that there is no increase in the amount of money the government is spending but somehow people think they are going to be paying more. As if they as consumers are not paying for every bit of government already. Politicians simply hide the taxes and scatter them around so they are not as noticeable.

 

[Kluge]

The thing that kills me is that there is no increase in the amount of money the government is spending but somehow people think they are going to be paying more. As if they as consumers are not paying for every bit of government already. Politicians simply hide the taxes and scatter them around so they are not as noticeable.

Yep. I'd far prefer sales/income tax to property taxes. Genuine property ownership is very important, and I can always choose to buy or not buy a product, so it's closer to voluntary to replace property taxes with sales tax, and even income tax.

 

[Zippyjuan]

The thing that kills me is that there is no increase in the amount of money the government is spending but somehow people think they are going to be paying more. As if they as consumers are not paying for every bit of government already. Politicians simply hide the taxes and scatter them around so they are not as noticeable.

About half are likely property owners. (Actually I see that their home ownership rate is about 69% http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/NDHOWN ) If the measure passes, the taxes they were paying will be spread to everyone. If you are not a property owner, the taxes you pay will go up (though renters are paying property taxes too- the taxes the person you rent from is paying are included in the rental rate- will rents be reduced if the owner no longer has to pay that tax or will they keep the money?). How much more you pay will depend on how they structure the additional taxes on other things. Right now they are trying to claim that much of the increases can be funded via revenues they are getting from the oil and gas activities in the state.

 

[TonySutton]

About half are likely property owners. (Actually I see that their home ownership rate is about 69% http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/NDHOWN ) If the measure passes, the taxes they were paying will be spread to everyone. If you are not a property owner, the taxes you pay will go up (though renters are paying property taxes too- the taxes the person you rent from is paying are included in the rental rate- will rents be reduced if the owner no longer has to pay that tax or will they keep the money?). How much more you pay will depend on how they structure the additional taxes on other things. Right now they are trying to claim that much of the increases can be funded via revenues they are getting from the oil and gas activities in the state.

I believe a free market would allow the rents to settle. Currently due to the boom in ND I doubt prices would fall because there is higher than normal demand. These other factors will keep upward pressure on rent although not as much due to the loss of property taxes.

 

[SludgeFactory]

That really is a shame. I'd be looking at properties in ND right now if they'd ditch property taxes.

Indeed it is. I did my part and just got back from voting for this measure. Apparently there used to be a personaly property tax in ND that people finally abolished in the 60's. I guess having someone go through all your personal belongings was finally viewed as intrusive. And guess what!? Our State Government has still survived and even flourished after abolishing that. It is too bad more people don't have freedom loving mentality that used to be a bit more prevalent.