Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Tax Reform topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cass County Commission adopts resolution backing flexible property tax cap tied to CPI
Summary
The Cass County Commission voted to adopt a resolution proposing a CPI-plus formula and approved a companion letter to state lawmakers outlining the county's position on property-tax cap legislation.
The Cass County Commission voted to adopt a resolution defining Cass County's position on proposed state property-tax cap legislation and approved a companion letter for use in testimony and distribution to local newspapers.
The resolution, introduced by county staff and led by Chair Grinberg, asks the Legislature to allow political subdivisions flexibility by tying allowable annual property-tax growth to the Consumer Price Index plus 2 percentage points, with a floor of 2% and a ceiling of 6%. Commissioners said the approach aims to let jurisdictions capture a portion of valuation and population growth while preserving local control under the county's home-rule authority.
The resolution cites Cass County's recent local tax experience: staff told the commission that, for the last five years, the average residential owner saw roughly a $20 annual increase attributable to county government and a 160-acre farmland parcel experienced about a $14 annual increase. Commissioners said those figures supported a compromise position of modest automatic adjustments tied to CPI and recognition of growth-related costs, particularly public safety and the State's Attorney's Office. County staff said the county has discussed the issue with the association of counties and with legislators and that the three major property-tax bills were then pending in the Senate.
After discussion, Commissioner Flacco moved to adopt the resolution and to authorize distribution of the companion letter to North Dakota legislators and local media; the motion passed on a roll call vote with the five commissioners present voting in favor.
The resolution and letter will be used in testimony before the Senate Finance and Tax Committee and as part of the county's public communications on the bills.
The commission did not amend the specific language of other pending bills, and staff emphasized that the resolution is a policy position to guide testimony rather than a statutory change.
Ending: The county will forward the approved resolution and letter to the county's legislative contacts and use them in testimony during the remainder of the legislative session.
