Voters in 2 North Dakota counties reject property tax increases

Jeff Beach / North Dakota Monitor By Jack Dura / North Dakota Monitor Today at 2:56 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? BISMARCK — Voters in two North Dakota counties on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeated ballot measures to raise property taxes beyond a 3% cap set by the Legislature last year. The measures came as an early sign of how some counties have grappled to cover rising costs under the limitation set by the Legislature last year. ADVERTISEMENT Divide County asked voters to approve an additional 2%, or about $37,800 per year, over the next four years to help fund the county’s operations. Voters said “no” by a 53% majority, according to complete but unofficial results. Divide turnout was nearly 58%, well above the barely 40% statewide. In Traill County, officials put on a measure of an additional 6.41%, or about $461,000 per year over the next four years, to help fund various services due to increasing costs and hiring competition with nearby Fargo and Grand Forks. Voters shot it down by more than 61%. Traill turnout was about 50%, also above the statewide number. Additionally, seven county measures for increased mill levies failed around the state; only one passed, said Donnell Preskey, government/public relations specialist for the North Dakota Association of Counties. “The economy is a big concern, and I think people are just not wanting any more expenses,” she said. Divide and Traill county officials previously told the North Dakota Monitor that they would have to make budget cuts if voters rejected the measures. Potential examples include full-time positions moved to part-time, delayed road projects and no salary increases. For such measures to pass, citizens need to better understand the need for more revenue, Preskey said. Counties will have to prioritize and cut certain things due to their limited revenue, she said. READ MORE North Dakota traffic victims to be remembered 11h ago North Dakota's Pembina Gorge State Park completes first season 1d ago Fedorchak to continue connecting with North Dakotans in second term 1d ago The 2025 Legislature set the 3% cap on annual property tax increases by local governments as part of an expansion of a primary residence property tax credit. The legislation came months after a 2024 ballot initiative that sought to eliminate assessed-value property taxes and force the state to pick up the tab for billions of dollars in replacement revenue. Voters rejected that measure. ADVERTISEMENT Many counties have used reserves and/or all or part of the 3% property tax increase allowed by law for their 2026 budget, according to data Preskey presented to lawmakers this year. The Association of Counties supports exceptions to the 3% cap for counties’ difficult costs of health insurance, elections and jails. House Finance and Taxation Committee Chairman Craig Headland, R-Montpelier, has said he senses no appetite to increase or eliminate the 3% cap. Text Example This story was originally published on NorthDakotaMonitor.com. Text Example ____________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here. Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE NORTH DAKOTA Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next North Dakota Is agriculture ‘losing its voice’ in North Dakota's Legislature? Some are concerned 1d ago · By Pamela Knudson North Dakota A growing number of North Dakota students 'waiting for a teacher' 1d ago · By Robin Huebner North Dakota Poll: North Dakotans show mixed support for data centers; envision job creation, local tax benefits 2d ago · By Michael Standaert ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Local Voter turnout in Stutsman County lower than 2022 general election 1d ago · By Masaki Ova National Burgum, with millions invested in AI industry, leads charge allowing data centers on public lands 2d ago · By Mark Olalde / ProPublica Subscribers Only Prep Braden Hemminger finishes the year as the Jays top ground-gainer 1d ago · By Katie Ringer North Dakota Is agriculture ‘losing its voice’ in North Dakota's Legislature? Some are concerned 1d ago · By Pamela Knudson