Property taxes

[Wall-eyes]

They are all just thief's, hang them all. Poor man poor, rich man richer.

 

[tikkalover]

MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) - Minot’s proposed city budget for next year is out.

Overall spending will drop 6.4%, but homeowners could see a property tax increase that’s well over the state’s new cap of 3%.

A recent city council meeting prompted concern from one member about the rising tax burden and whether the city is breaking the law.

The Minot City Council adopted the preliminary budget and pay plan for 2026 at $211 million.

As it stands, that’s about $14 million less than this year.

But the proposal bumps the property tax levy up by $5.5 million, leaving council member Mike Blessum questioning finance director David Lakefield about how the city got to this number.

Blessum: “It’s your belief that it’s legal for us to levy $29.5 million on a base of $24 million last year?”

Lakefield: “Alderman Blessum, I think so. I’ve had conversations with the county auditor and others. Ultimately, that’s why when we started down this process, we wanted to have the state and everyone involved. Essentially, the directive we have been given is we need to consult our own attorneys or state attorneys to figure that out.”

For a home valued at $100,000, the city’s share of property taxes for the year would go up $83.25.

Blessum believes that if the budget is sent in, the city would be breaking the law.

“I’m virtually positive we’re doing exactly what they didn’t want us to do then. If you watched the discussions, if you watched the debate at the legislature, to me it was very clear what they’re intent was. If this is the loophole they left, it’s going to be an ugly, ugly process going forward,” said Blessum.

Lakefield explains how tax amounts can increase every year as flood control debt goes up, a loophole they are trying to avoid in the future by making this one-time increase.

I don't believe it. If they do it one time they will do it again.

“Instead of transferring sales tax into the general fund and then transferring from the general fund into the debt fund, the transfer is made to the general fund, and we levy for the debt in the debt fund,” said Lakefield.

The budget cannot be increased moving forward, but it can be lowered.

It’s important to note that, near the end of budget discussions last fall, the council voted to use reserve funds to offset property tax amounts.

Some council members who supported that move argued citizens were being overtaxed, while others shared concerns over using reserve funds for that purpose.

A public hearing will be held on Sept. 15 during the city council meeting.

The city would approve a final budget on Oct. 6.

The final version is due to Ward County by Oct. 10.

Obviously, state implemented laws mean nothing to the city of Minot.

 

[Twitch]

Hey keep it local

 

[MSA]

Posted it before, and posting it again...heres the property taxes on my house in Minot, which are now approx 5,500 per year, and going up again for the 6th year in a row...I would go bitch to the city, but then they'd notice me, re-asses my home, and oh sir, it seems you have a fieldstone chimney instead of the faux stone, so were going to have to raise your taxes another 1,000 per year because the middle school down the street needs a 15 million dollar scoreboard in the gym the kids play dodgeball in.

 

[Sum1]

Why not pass a bill if you own your house and you’re 65 years of age and older you are exempt from property taxes?? It’s that simple

 

[Obi-Wan]

MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) - Minot’s proposed city budget for next year is out.

Overall spending will drop 6.4%, but homeowners could see a property tax increase that’s well over the state’s new cap of 3%.

A recent city council meeting prompted concern from one member about the rising tax burden and whether the city is breaking the law.

The Minot City Council adopted the preliminary budget and pay plan for 2026 at $211 million.

As it stands, that’s about $14 million less than this year.

But the proposal bumps the property tax levy up by $5.5 million, leaving council member Mike Blessum questioning finance director David Lakefield about how the city got to this number.

Blessum: “It’s your belief that it’s legal for us to levy $29.5 million on a base of $24 million last year?”

Lakefield: “Alderman Blessum, I think so. I’ve had conversations with the county auditor and others. Ultimately, that’s why when we started down this process, we wanted to have the state and everyone involved. Essentially, the directive we have been given is we need to consult our own attorneys or state attorneys to figure that out.”

For a home valued at $100,000, the city’s share of property taxes for the year would go up $83.25.

Blessum believes that if the budget is sent in, the city would be breaking the law.

“I’m virtually positive we’re doing exactly what they didn’t want us to do then. If you watched the discussions, if you watched the debate at the legislature, to me it was very clear what they’re intent was. If this is the loophole they left, it’s going to be an ugly, ugly process going forward,” said Blessum.

Lakefield explains how tax amounts can increase every year as flood control debt goes up, a loophole they are trying to avoid in the future by making this one-time increase.

I don't believe it. If they do it one time they will do it again.

“Instead of transferring sales tax into the general fund and then transferring from the general fund into the debt fund, the transfer is made to the general fund, and we levy for the debt in the debt fund,” said Lakefield.

The budget cannot be increased moving forward, but it can be lowered.

It’s important to note that, near the end of budget discussions last fall, the council voted to use reserve funds to offset property tax amounts.

Some council members who supported that move argued citizens were being overtaxed, while others shared concerns over using reserve funds for that purpose.

A public hearing will be held on Sept. 15 during the city council meeting.

The city would approve a final budget on Oct. 6.

The final version is due to Ward County by Oct. 10.

Obviously, state implemented laws mean nothing to the city of Minot.

This is what some of you voted for. YOU WERE ALL WARNED WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO AND NOW ACT SUPPRISED.

 

[Obi-Wan]

Why not pass a bill if you own your house and you’re 65 years of age and older you are exempt from property taxes?? It’s that simple

Why not vote yes to pass a constitutional measure to make eliminate property tax for all ???? it was that simple

 

[Sum1]

Why not vote yes to pass a constitutional measure to make eliminate property tax for all ???? it was that simple

I always do but obviously that will never pass. The 65 and older deal seems like a no brainer

 

[Obi-Wan]

I always do but obviously that will never pass. The 65 and older deal seems like a no brainer

The 65 & older already have some type if not total relief now and we lost their vote because they didn't want to upset their apple cart even at the financial burden to others.

 

[Fester]

This is awesome!!! Remember when we could have votes out property taxes? Tax away minot tax away. The people deserve to be taxed harder. They like it!

 

[gillraker]

This is awesome!!! Remember when we could have votes out property taxes? Tax away minot tax away. The people deserve to be taxed harder. They like it!

Yes Sir! The "tax me harder daddy" crowd getting what we tried to warn them about, the scare tactics worked, you had the chance to vote out property taxes and didn't , so tough $hit!

 

[MSA]

This is awesome!!! Remember when we could have votes out property taxes? Tax away minot tax away. The people deserve to be taxed harder. They like it!

Twice! two times we've been given the opportunity to abolish property taxes, and the property taxes even doubled after the first time...and nope, but god forbid eggs or toilet paper cost a dollar more. I still don't know what a dozen f***** eggs or a gallon of gas costs

I think the proplem is 3/4 of the voters are broke renters, free loaders, and roomates that dont own property, make money, or pay real taxes

 

[johnr]

This is what some of you voted for. YOU WERE ALL WARNED WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO AND NOW ACT SUPPRISED.

Some of the retards in our state are convinced if we don't tax the fuck out of property owners, the boggy man will impregnate our daughters, and steal the change of your dresser on the way out.

 

[double account removed]

heh heh u guys are nailin it even though a lib would say if the plan was so great why couldnt they explain it at all to sell it to voters and that the problem in minot and cities was directly addressed by rick becker when he said quote they would still be able to tax your property so yeah i agree knowing how the civil works we all enjoy the comfort of every single day and the chaos it would create to depend on yer local n state numbskulls to figure out how to keep things runnin and maintained when u coulda just made primary dwelling exempt and not given corperations a windfall on OUR dime it would have 100 percent passed that makes you a tax me harder daddy lib

was there a reason rick became the face of this as hess n chevron were workin out a sale of all nd assets behind closed doors like maybe a board position was on the line since he disappeared again n there was no real plan to keep fundin guess we will never no but that is the typa politics we like these days

 

[Slappy]

Why not pass a bill if you own your house and you’re 65 years of age and older you are exempt from property taxes?? It’s that simple

Why stop at property taxes? Why not exempt seniors from paying for lawn care, snow removal, siding and shingle replacement, HVAC maintenance, driveway re-graveling or crack sealing, plumbing repairs and all other ongoing expenses that come with owning and maintaining ones residence?

 

[guywhofishes]

Why stop at property taxes? Why not exempt seniors from paying for lawn care, snow removal, siding and shingle replacement, HVAC maintenance, driveway re-graveling or crack sealing, plumbing repairs and all other ongoing expenses that come with owning and maintaining ones residence?

I like the sound of that

but let’s wait a few years for that one

 

[jdfisherman]

 

[MSA]

"they'll just get the money by raising some other tax" .....yeah, no shit, how great would it be if they taxed everyone via some kind of sales tax instead of just home owners

 

[deleted user]

Primary residence. I nearly think everyone agrees on that. Why was that never an option?

 

[Twitch]

Primary residence. I nearly think everyone agrees on that. Why was that never an option?

I guarantee it would still fail….