Could we get some clarification here? Are they talking about school taxes here, or just general property axes. In most areas, school taxes are the preponderance of what is generally termed “Real Estate” or property taxes..( when I left the NY suburbs in 2007, school taxes were 72% of my total property tax bill. School districts are separate entities, often with DIFFERENT geographical boundaries than the underlying municipalities..they propose their own budgets and assessment rates.
Clarification here? If you want clarification of ND property tax, maybe this would answer your question. I own a shade under 50 acres with a home, out buildings and other improvements. My total tax was $550 for 2011. It was spent as follows: County - 42%, Township - 17%, School - 37%, Fire - 2%, Water - 1%, State - 1%.
Next year it is to go up about 50%.
I called the county to find out why such a large increase. They said it was because our property was undervalued.
However, the media is constantly saying the oil boom is coming to our neck of the woods, and our infrastructure is lacking, they want it up to speed before it gets here. I see this as a valid reason for wanting more money. The county needs it for the roads, the schools need to expand.
The oil trucks flat outright ruin roads, and the influx of new folks over crowd the schools.
Because of this, I favor having the excess oil revenue make up the difference. They now have producers less than 10 miles from our home, and one staked off less than 3 miles, and a proposed well less than a mile. The quality of oil coming out of the ground is very close to diesel fuel, so the refinery being built in the state to make mostly diesel.
So I see the need to upgrade our community, but the oil should pay for it.