Amendment D says Yes to the Brown County Fair
From a press release issued today:
The Stabilize Taxes On Property (S.T.O.P.) group who gathered over 52,000 signatures statewide to place Amendment D, the property tax assessment cap on the November 7th Ballot, will have an informational booth at the Brown County Fair in Aberdeen through this weekend.
Chief of Staff David Phelps, will be at the fair all week to answer questions, hand out literature, and volunteers will be distributing VOTE 'YES' ON AMENDMENT D BUMPER STICKERS. The booth number is #70, which is located in the Holum Expo Building right behind the Hockey Building. Look for the large banner hanging in the booth.
The website for Amendment D is www.STOP2006.org To reach us by email: billnapoli@gmail.com By phone: 605-341-2370
This release also comes on the heels of another press release issued today on Amendment D from State Senator Bill Napoli:
State Senator Bill Napoli says, "South Dakota Ag producers now face HUGE ASSESSMENT INCREASES EVEN WITH THE 150% Rule." Napoli went on to say, " A recent news article stated Ag valuations state wide went up 17 percent. With Ag values increasing 75 percent over the last five years along with the drought, escalating fuel costs, insurance, fertiziler, equipment, and a host of other costs increasing, the Ag Industry is now facing double digit percentage property assessment increases followed by hefty property tax increases."You can find out more about Amendment D at www.STOP2006.org
Senator Napoli has worked with a team of volunteers across the state to place Amendment D, the Property Assessment Cap on the November Ballot. The volunteer group turned in over 52,000 signatures, which was the largest record number of signatures for any ballot measure.
Napoli says, " These double digit property assessment increases would no longer happen under Amendment D." Senator Napoli goes on to say, "Property assessments could not go up more than a maximum of 3% per year, until the property is sold. Then the 3% maximum yearly increase kicks in on any new property sold. Amendment D will Stabilize Taxes On Property, and will not effect any local government budgets such as our schools, cities, counties, road districts, townships, etc."
He also goes on to say, "Amendment D allows the same rate of growth in assessments that our local budgets are allowed to grow which by state law is a maximum of 3%."
"As more and more land is sold at higher prices, the landowners surrounding these sales are currently being penalized by someone else's purchase price. Amendment D will change the way property is assessed. When Amendment D passes assessments will then be based on the sales price, and that sales price will no longer effect any neighboring property."
Senator Napoli asks, "Why would anyone oppose Amendment D?"
Comments
Every time they have a poor year they look for hand outs from Govt(our tax dollars).
When was the last time a retailer
got assistance when when business was slow.
How about the tourist attractions in the hill? How much are they going to lose because of the high gas prices.
Yet you don't hear them asking for Fed or State money.
Add to that, the farmers and ranchers are paying a lot lower property tax bill because of the special rate they get for ag land.
While I'm all for trying to help keep the family farm alive, I'm really tried of hearing how hard they have it. They get more breaks then everyone else combined.