(BISMARCK, ND) – The quest for property tax relief in North Dakota has appeared to hit a snag.
House Bill 1176 continues to be heard in conference committee, which is made up of three members of the House and three members of the Senate to hash out differences on legislation.
“We’ve agreed on probably 95 percent of the bill,” Representative Mike Nathe (R-Bismarck) said in the committee meeting Wednesday. “Let’s face it—there’s one issue that’s hanging out there. We’ve talked about it very little.”
The issue Nathe is referring to is called the skin in the game provision, which would require homeowners to pay a portion of their tax liability.
Nathe asked the members from the Senate for an update with relation to the provision.
“I would say, for now, we’re still in a holding pattern with that position,” said Senator Mark Weber (R-Casselton), who added the Senate’s concern has more to do with a longer term impact.
“If we get into the scenario where eventually we’re trying to get homes down to zero, or for the majority of North Dakota residences, there’s concern about if we move that way for some of these areas where commercial and ag land is the dominant payer,” said Weber, who believes there are services that need to be covered.
“Everybody should pay something for that,” Weber said. “All should pay a little sales, income and property tax.”
No new conference committee meeting has been set on the bill.
