North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties

A bill draft that will require property assessor certification was reviewed, passed by the committee, and will potentially be considered by the 2015 Legislature. Though the proposed bill increases the training standard that assessors would be held to, there was concern that costs of training will have to be absorbed by counties, as well as the cities and townships that also employ assessors in their jurisdictions.

 

In an effort to establish a uniform format for property tax statements among counties, the ND Tax Commissioner's Office has developed a prototype, pictured above.

Another bill draft that was reviewed mandates interim committee review of state economic development incentives like the Angel Fund investment credits, renaissance zone credits and exemptions, wage & salary credits, oil and gas GPT and extraction tax exemptions, and coal severance and conversion tax exemptions. Representatives from the Pew Research Center will be attending the committee's July meeting to share more information. At this time, the bill draft only applies to state programs and incentives, though some committee members indicated they would like to see local economic development exemptions included in the list of those to be reviewed as well.

 

Finally, the committee discussed a 133-page bill draft that would adjust the statutory provisions regarding determination of taxable valuation. It would also replace current statutory mill rates with a property tax determination based on cents per thousand dollars of taxable valuation. Under the bill draft provisions, mills would be eliminated from the property tax equation. One mill would be changed to equal "5 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation". According to data provided to the committee, only seventeen states, including North Dakota, use mills as property tax rates. The remaining states use some form of dollars. 

Meeting on Thursday, May 29, this interim committee featured discussion on water issues, a Land Board study on land options around Lake Sakakawea and Lake Oahe, and a status update on tribal-state tax agreements currently in place.

Assistant State Engineer Michelle Klose began the meeting, speaking about the eligibility of tribal reservations for water projects funded by the State Water Commission (SWC). She expressed a desire to gauge the interest of tribal representatives on SWC aid to political subdivisions on the state's reservations in funding water supply projects. Klose indicated that the SWC has awarded grant funding to political subdivisions in need, typically with a 60-70% local match requirement. The SWC, she said, has placed priority on long-term, reliable, and sustainable water projects in awards that have been made. Some tribal members in attendance advocated that a tribal representative be statutorily added to the SWC in order to have a tribal perspective within the commission.

 

Lance Gaebe, State Land Commissioner, gave a report to the committee on a study of the US Army Corps of Engineers-held lands around Lake Sakakawea. The main purpose of the study was to develop different options for the Legislature concerning noxious weed control, public access to these lands, and to look into the possibility of transferring these lands away from the Corps to a different entity or individuals, along with the associated costs of transferring and maintenance. Eide Bailly was awarded the study and has conducted five local public meetings in order to gather input and ideas for developing different options. Those meetings were held in early March 2014 in New Town, Garrison, Linton, Beulah, and Fort Yates. Different approaches to the issue were suggested as a result of those local meetings. Another outcome was the finding that lake access is a major issue to consider. A general public meeting is scheduled for June 11 in Bismarck where the draft options will be developed. A revised draft of those options is expected to be presented to the State Land Board at its August meeting.

 

Tribal and state tax agreements were also discussed.  Myles Vosberg with the Tax Commissioner's Office focused on taxes like the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products tax and the Motor Fuel and Special Fuel taxes. Regarding tribal shares from the oil and gas Gross Production Tax and Extraction Tax, Vosberg said that May 2014 distributions to the MHA Nation would be around $21.4 million and that the 2013-15 biennium average monthly distributions so far were between $19.2 and $19.3 million. Discussion also took place on the potential of tribes implementing their own sales tax, though this was indicated to require legislative approval for a tribal-state agreement.

For more information:
Krista Harju, KFYR-TV News
Mike Nowatzki, Forum News Service
Nick Smith, Bismarck Tribune

Daryl Dukart

If there is one thing that is certain in western North Dakota, it is change. While much of rural America seems to stand still, the 19 counties in the Vision West ND region are experiencing nation-leading change and growth. The recently released Vision West Regional Plan for Sustainable Development outlines the region's plans to match quality of life with unmatched economic opportunity.

 

Unique to this plan is the process and the organization that has guided its development. Vision West ND is a community-level coalition of leaders and citizens who have advocated for addressing their individual community needs, and at the same time promoted cooperation, unity and volunteerism as a region. Throughout the two-year planning process, more than 2,000 citizens in western North Dakota devoted at least two hours (many devoted more than 20 hours) to develop this Regional Plan which identified five key issues that are of broadest and deepest concern to the citizens of the region: child care, emergency services, housing, transportation and water.

 

The Vision West Regional Plan and its summary can be found online at www.visionwestnd.com by selecting "Project Initiatives" then "Regional Plan" on the main menu.

 

Click here to continue reading Dukart's piece. Dukart serves as a Dunn County Commissioner and chairs the Vision West ND Consortium. 

Tornado victims Felicia and Owen Grooms walked into their free hotel room to find bags full of toys and clothes for their 2-year-old boy.

 

Dennis and Jennifer Socolovitch didn't have enough money on a gift card to fully pay for new work boots and socks after Monday's tornado, and the store gave them to Dennis for free.

 

Desiree Spencer went to a Watford City pharmacy to replace prescriptions she lost in the tornado, and the prescriptions were replaced for free with a $150 check inside.

 

This photo taken from a video provided by Dan Yorgason shows the tornado that touched down Monday at a crew camp near Watford City, ND.

Residents of the 15 campers destroyed by Monday night's tornado south of Watford City had many stories Thursday about the generosity of local residents. Several agencies set up at the civic center to provide assistance to those affected by the storm and a free spaghetti dinner for the community.

 

"It's been amazing," said Jennifer Socolovitch, of Michigan.

 

But while the families have found places to stay temporarily, those choosing to stay in North Dakota are still looking for long-term housing.

 

"Most of them need a home by Sunday, some place to go," said Meryle Vinje, who provided informal mental health counseling Thursday with Volk Human Services of Devils Lake.

...

The 15-year-old girl who was critically injured in the tornado has been released from intensive care at Trinity Health in Minot and her condition was upgraded to "good," Trinity spokeswoman Mary Muhlbradt said Thursday.

 

Eight other people were treated for injuries resulting from the tornado and released.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., toured the tornado damage Thursday, and Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley is expected to tour the area today.

 

How to help:

The McKenzie County Tornado Relief Fund has been set up at First International Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 1036, Watford City, ND 58854. Online donations will be accepted through the North Dakota Community Foundation, or ndcf.net.

 

Click here to read Dalrymple's full story. 

 

 

WTI Crude: $103.11

Brent Crude: $109.67

Natural Gas: $4.56

ND Rig Count: 187

 

Please take your time to review all materials and links provided for your convenience. We at the ND Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties will continue to provide you up-to-date information on upcoming events and news happening in North Dakota's oil and gas producing counties!

Sincerely,

400 East Broadway Avenue
Suite 304
Bismarck, ND 58501