Electric cooperatives urge 'NO' vote on property tax measure, here is why:

A coalition launched in June to oppose the initiated ballot measure that seeks to abolish property tax in North Dakota. Keep It Local coalition members represent a broad spectrum of North Dakota interests, including agriculture, public safety, education, energy, cooperatives, business and local, city and county government.

The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC), whose members include 17 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota, have joined the coalition. North Dakota's electric cooperatives urge a "no" vote on the property tax measure.

"We all say we 'back the blue' and support law enforcement, our schools, our emergency responders, but how can we say that if we get rid of their main funding source, which is property tax?" says Josh Kramer, NDAREC executive vice president and general manager. "I get it, folks want property tax reform, and so do I. But it is irresponsible to pull the rug out from local government without having a plan in place to fund essential community services into the future. Abolishing property tax is not the answer, and property tax reform cannot be accomplished responsibly through a ballot measure changing the state constitution.

"We represent industry, but we also represent community. We represent those who run the community, who live, work and raise families in the community," Kramer says. "We don't represent out-of-state landowners, who might be the one group who will benefit from the elimination of property taxes."

CCEC will provide more information on the property tax measure in the October issue. Visit www.keepitlocalnd.org to learn more.

This story originally appeared in the August 2024 issue of North Dakota Living.