Thanks for the update.
One of the posters talking about the Measure 2 loss in the newspaper pointed out:
We the People: “The claim: Elderly North Dakota residents or any residents are losing their homes to property tax foreclosures.
Truth or Fiction: Mostly fiction.
Measure 2 supporters often cite the heavy tax burden on homeowners, particularly older North Dakotans, as a reason to pass the measure. But the claims are overblown, according to public records.
State law dictates that a homeowner’s property may be foreclosed upon to pay the tax debt after three years of tax delinquency. Counties, such as Williams County, administer the foreclosures when the tax debt goes unsatisfied.
The North Dakota Association of Counties surveyed county auditors about the frequency of property tax foreclosures in North Dakota. In 2010, counties foreclosed upon 637 residential homes due to delinquent property tax payments. Of those foreclosures, only eight homes were occupied and none of the homeowners were elderly.
Elderly North Dakotans also may be eligible for certain tax credits to help them stay in their homes. The Homestead Tax Credit reduces property tax payments for people who are older than 65 or disabled and who have limited incomes and assets.”
Only 8 out of the 637 homes foreclosed for taxes (statewide) was even occupied, and none of them were seniors! That confirms what many opposed to Measure 2 suspected: this was a push by out-of-state property and business owners to push the costs of local governmental services onto residents. With all the problems caused by the explosion of the oil business, North Dakota didn’t need to cut out tax revenue from out-of-state property owners and shift ALL those costs onto residents. Some estimates were that up to 30% of all property on which property taxes are levied belongs to non-residents.