Measure 2 defeated, lawmakers mull property tax reforms

A constitutional measure that would have made North Dakota the first state in the nation to abolish property taxes went down in flames Tuesday, with about 77 percent of the more than 172,000 primary voters soundly saying “No” to Measure 2.

But Sen. Dwight Cook, R-Mandan, said the Legislature has worked to reform property taxes for years, an effort that will continue — and lawmakers already have several plans that could lower tax bills — despite what happened in voting booths across the state.

“I don’t think the defeat of Measure 2 is going to change or diminish the desire of those of us who are looking for continued reform in property tax,” he said.

“I like to say that the road to perfection is under construction, and we started down that road in 2007,” Cook said.

Sen. Ray Holmberg, R-Grand Forks, agreed and said the Legislature will continue to work on addressing residents’ concerns about property taxes.

“But it’s not going to be as draconian as Measure 2, which abolished it and passed the buck onto the Legislature and said, ‘Handle it,’” he said.

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