Guest Post: Vote Solem For Lower Taxes And Less Spending In Grand Forks

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Written By:
Cory Solem

Oct 12, 2012
9:29am

My name is Cory Solem, and I am a candidate for Grand Forks County Commissioner.

I was born and raised in Grand Forks. I attended Ben Franklin, South Middle School, Red River High School, and graduated from UND. I have spent my entire life hearing about how certain groups have controlled this town. I believe the common term is “the good old boys network.” I am running for county commissioner because I believe it is time for somebody to stand up to those running things.

I was raised in a very Republican household, but that is not what defines me as a politician. I do not identify with one party of the other. I classify myself as a fiscal conservative, and I am very anti-big government. I have watched every level of government raise taxes on the people for far too long.

Grand Forks county is in the 97th percentile in property taxes to home value in the country. We have higher tax rates than Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, and many other larger cities. Tax hikes have brought our economic growth to the slowest in the state. Devils Lake has faster growth then us.

The constant tax hikes and red tape need to be stopped, so we as a county can move forward with the rest of the state. The current people on the commission are completely out of touch with what is actually going on.

In 2010 while the area was still slowly bouncing back from the slow economy, the county commission decided give a four percent raise across the board to every county employee. They took money away from people dealing with cut hours, lost jobs, and higher prices on everything.

The Grand Forks Herald had an article praising the county commission for a 1.7 mil decrease in property taxes this year. Well if you believe the Herald then spending should be down. Not the case at all! The last three years there have been jumps of 8, 9 and 7.5 million dollars in spending.

Last year they passed a budget of $37 million, this year it is $44.5 million. So a $7.5 million increase is shown as a good thing by our local newspaper. I went to the budget approval meeting, and it took all of 25 minutes for them to spend $44.5 million.

I am asking people to spread the word, that time for change is now, and if we don’t make the changes necessary we will continue to be left behind.

Please go to the polls and vote Cory Solem for County Commissioner. On a side note, the ballot says select two, but you don’t have to vote for two you can vote for only one.