Letters to the Editor | October 21st, 2024
Fred W. Evans
Concerned tax-paying citizens of North Dakota:
Taxes, taxes no doubt, we all don’t like taxes! As the saying goes, the two things in life are certain, death and taxes!!
Fair and equitable, what taxes are both fair and equitable? None, whether income tax, death tax, gas tax (electric-cars, free) or any other tax, there are always inequities, not fair, but regardless have to be paid!!
What about property taxes? Are they fair, and why is this an issue in 2024?
Here’s a thought, why this is even on the table this year, just think this through for a bit.
We all know that everyone hates taxes, with that being the case, a certain candidate for the U.S. House from North Dakota felt, in order to get “voter sympathy,” would start talking about the “unfairness” of Property Taxes, which was really quite effective, even though they lost their run for the US House seat. Constantly raising the “unfair” issue, have people awakened to an issue, which truly isn’t an issue. It was all a political ploy, to get votes!
Please, be aware of what’s really happening. We all, each of us, need to try to keep a bit of local control of our tax dollars. As of now, each county in North Dakota raises taxes from, mainly, “property.”
In Williams County 65% of their tax base is from pipelines, gas plants and facilities which are not taxed by the county, but the county gets the benefit. In Mountrail County, it’s a bit less than 50%. The counties are responsible for valuing land, businesses and homes for taxes.
What could be fairer? If you have made money, purchased land, house or houses, why not pay a tax, which then goes to support all of the benefits we have as a society, whether schools, police, fire-protection and on and on!
Over 50% of property taxes in North Dakota are paid by OUT-OF-STATERS!!
Think this through and please Vote NO on Measure 4.
Sincerely,
Fred W. Evans, property tax payer in Mountrail County, North Dakota
December 18th 2025
August 19th 2025
June 19th 2025
June 2nd 2025
May 15th 2025
__293px-wide.jpg)
_(1)__293px-wide.jpg)
_(1)_(1)_(1)_(1)__293px-wide.jpg)
__293px-wide.jpg)
_(1)__293px-wide.jpg)
By Bryce HaugenNot everyone detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is an undocumented immigrant. After a Jan. 12 scuffle at a local Walmart, Tim Catlett, a resident of St. Cloud, Minn., was held at the Bishop…
By Kooper Shagena Just off of I-94 and Highway 83 on State Street in Bismarck, an abandoned Kmart sits behind an empty parking lot, watching the cars roll on and off the interstate exchange. It has been standing there quietly since…
Saturday, January 31, mingling at 6:15 p.m. and program at 7 p.m.Fine Arts Club, 601 4th St. S., FargoThe FM Symphony is getting intimate by launching a “Small Stages” chamber music series and it's bringing folks together via…
By John Strand If you are reading this editorial and you too are worried sick about the state of our country, keep reading. Maybe we can inspire each other. It was near closing time. We were discussing our values crisis. So this…
By Ed RaymondA mind that snapped, cracked, and popped at one hundredI wasn’t going to read a long column called “Centenarian: A Diary of a Hundredth Year” by Calvin Tomkins celebrating his birthday on December 17 of 2025…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…
By Rick GionSince the much-dreaded Covid years, there has been much ebb and flow in the Fargo-Moorhead restaurant scene. In 2025, that trend continued with some major additions and closings. Let’s start the New Year on a positive…
Saturday, January 17, doors at 7:30 p.m.The Aquarium above Dempsey’s, 226 N. Broadway, FargoThe Slow Death is a punk supergroup led by Jesse Thorson, with members and collaborators that include members of The Ergs!, Dillinger…
By Greg Carlson Writer-director Naomi Jaye adapts fellow Canadian Martha Baillie’s 2009 novel “The Incident Report” as a potent and introspective character study. Retitled “Darkest Miriam,” Jaye’s movie stars Britt…
By Jacinta ZensThe Guerrilla Girls, an internationally renowned anonymous feminist art collective, have been bringing attention to the gender and racial imbalances in contemporary art institutions for the last 40 years. They have…
Saturday, January 31, 6:30-9 p.m.Transfiguration Fitness, 764 34th St. N., Unit P, FargoAn enchanting evening celebrating movement and creativity in a staff-student showcase. This is a family-friendly event showcasing pole, aerial…
By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…
By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com At the beginning of the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the Grinch is introduced as having a smaller than average heart, but as the movie progresses, his heart increases three…
January 31, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.Viking Ship Park, 202 1st Ave. N., Moorhead2026 marks 10 years of frosty fun! Enjoy sauna sessions with Log the Sauna, try Snowga (yoga in the snow), take a guided snowshoe nature hike, listen to live…
By Vern Thompson Benjamin Franklin offered one of the most sobering warnings in American history. When asked what kind of government the framers had created in 1787, he replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Few words…