Say Anything Blog

HB 1314 strictly limits the use of local sales tax for local school district.

HB 1276 limits local property tax increase to 2% year-over-year.

To one degree or another, this state money is going to come with stings attached - as well it should.

The problem is that the localities have spent so much money and then blamed the state for not giving them the money.

I’m sure that’s why the folks in Bismarck want to attach strings.

You’re right, let the cities do what they want, but don’t make the state taxpayers foot the bill for choices made locally.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

The State of Minnesota went through an equalization in ther late 80’s and early 90’s to bring school districts/schools up to a standard.  The State took money from some and passed it out to others--but, a big but, the schools then had the State telling them how things were going to be done.  The money comes with strings.

Freep, I’d just as soon my local district not be run by people who live in other parts of the state.

State (or federal money, for that matter) shouldn’t come with strings on it, but it does.  Then again, localities should be figuring out a way to avoid needing that money.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Rob,

Well, the locals want the money.  The Governor wants to give away the farm.  The Legislature wants to avoid making waves. 

The general feeling is that there are not enough hearty souls down there to stop the cash giveaway, so the best case scenario is that there is enough support to support regulations that are such the locals will no longer want the money at all.  Basicly these stings are in effect, poison pills.

Freep, the people don’t get that the money has strings tied to it.  That’s why we have politicians in this state bragging about all the federal money we get.

We’re selling our sovereignty down stream one federal tax dollar at a time, and local governments taking money from the state aren’t all that much different.

I don’t care what the political status quo thinks about it.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Rob,

I’m just forwarding on what the political realities, there are a few legislators with cajones, but the operative term is - few.

The fact is that the Dems won because the Republicans accepted the premise that the reason taxes are rising is because of lack of state funding and either were not able, or not willing to put the blame on the responsible local spending authorities.

And we have a governor seeking a 3rd term who does not want to be seen as weak within his own party and is more than willing to spend money that is not his own.

The Dems won what?

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

The Dems won what?

The argument over whose fault high property taxes are.

They won the argument because Republicans refused to object to the claims.

This is a recipe for higher income taxes AND property taxes!
I already pay 40% of what I pay in Federal income taxes in state income taxes. If I still had a child under 17 I would pay 90% MORE!
Rather odd for a state that feigns concern about young people leaving the state!

Kevin,

More is coming because the Democrats seem to be in favor of giving tax breaks to those who can afford to own property on the backs of those who can’t.

Must be part of the overall scheme to make half the population dependent on the government while making them hate the “rich” (the half of the population that makes over $31,000, in North Dakota at least). 

And Republicans wanting quote “property tax relief” are more than willing to go along with this plan to increase dependency. 

Shifting burdens is wrong and counter productive.

In chronological order of thought process:

No Need to Invest Surplus

Property Taxes and Education Funding

What does it mean for the state to “fund property tax relief?”

Free: The govt doesn’t “invest”.  The only ethical thing that should be done with any “surplus"(theft from the taxpayers) is to return it immediately. If a merchant overcharges you, you expect him to return the money, not spend it on something he wants to spend it on.

Hope and change, in a free world, are the private possessions of motivated individuals.

I know this Robert, please direct your rage at Hoeven et al.