Truth in Taxation: Mandan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 12th, 2007

Contact: Duane Sand, (701) 223-9887

 

Truth in Taxation: Mandan

AFP Announces Results of Study into Local Taxation


Mandan, ND - Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota today announced its findings of the local tax situation in Mandan. The aim of this study was to show that local decisions and not a lack of state involvement, has resulted in high local property taxes.

 

Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota supports local control in education and other municipal matters, and encourages local policy making elected officials that receive state and federal funding over an above the accepted rate of inflation to pass along savings to local property tax payers.

 

“In an era of declining populations and declining school enrollments, local officials must keep the principle of parity in mind. In the case of Mandan, we see that the federal government has contributed 275% more funding, local taxpayers have contributed 120% more, and state taxpayers have contributed 45% more – all while there are now 15% less students – it is clear that the one thing lacking in this formula is parity. Local taxpayers deserve to know why it costs them nearly three times as much to educate their children as it did 12 years ago,” said State Director, Duane Sand.

 

Quick Facts on Mandan Taxation

 

  • Total Valuations have increased by 46%, resulting in a 54% increase of property tax revenue
  • The county’s mill levy has increased by 7%, and valuations have increased by 48% resulting in a 55% increase in revenue.
  • The city mill levy has decreased by 8%, but valuations have increased 81%, resulting in a 63% increase in revenue.
  • The city currently has $58 million in outstanding debt.
  • Revenues from special assessments exceed revenues from general property taxes in the city of Mandan.
  • Park district mills have decreased by 21%, but valuations have increased by 81%, resulting in a 39% increase in revenues.
  • School district mills have increased by 16%, and valuations have increased by 68%, resulting in a 92% increase in revenue.
  • Federal education funding has increased by 275% since 1994, state funding has increased by 44.5% since 1994, and local funding has increased by 120% since 1994.
  • As of 2006, the state was funding 54% of non-federal spending in the Mandan School District.


The Truth in Taxation Tour is the local effort by Americans for Prosperity to educate local taxpayers on who is really causing their property taxes to increase. For the Mandan study, education financial data was provided by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, Mandan School District was unable to provide up to date information due to technical difficulties. All other data was provided by the Morton County Auditor.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org.

 

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Local Government Action since 2006


In 2007, Morton County decreased its mill levy by 7%, valuations increased by 8.6%, resulting in a virtual freeze of revenues.

In 2007, the City of Mandan decreased its mill levy by 3.7%, but since valuations increased by 9.6%, so revenues still increased by 5.6%.

In 2007, the Mandan School District decreased its mill levy by 1.7%, but valuations increased by 9.7%, resulting in a 7.9% increase in revenues. Current data on how much of the $80 million in new state funding was received by the Mandan School District was not readily available.

In 2007, the Mandan Part District increased its mills by 1/10th%, coupled with the 9.6% increase of valuations, revenues were increased by 9.8%.


Report Card on Local Taxation in Mandan

Customer
Service

Transparency

Fiscal
Responsibility

Overall

Morton County

C

A

D

C-

City of Mandan

A

D-

D-

D-

Mandan School District

F

F

F

F

Mandan Park District

A

A

B-

B

Notes on Grades:

· The Morton County Auditor was helpful in pointing out that the City of Mandan collects more via special assessments than by standard property taxes.

· The City of Mandan as noted above collects more via special assessments than by standard property taxes.

· The Mandan School District was in the process of transitioning to a new computer system and was unable to provide as detailed information as the Grand Forks School District did. AFP-ND will stay in contact with the school district and issue an update to this report after the data is made available to the public in January.

· The City of Mandan has accrued over $58 million in debt, approximately $3,200 per capita.

 

 Click Here to see the whole study.