Bismarck, North Dakota News

" I agree with Mandan dude and CD, there are some bad streets. Collins, on which a small child could fall in some of the potholes there, is being fixed. Second Street should be high on the priority list as it is absolutely awful. It is rougher than a country gravel road. "

" One of my points was that I did receive a reduction, so something good was happening beneath the surface. If taxes go down $20 a month people aren't impressed, too small an amount? What would happen if they went up $20? Whoa, just listen then to the size that amount would be taken to! And I didn't say people don't have any business owning homes, I said I wouldn't have any business owning a home LIKE MINE, meaning some people get in over their heads. It appears you are reading only what you want, and not processing the entire meaning. Imagine that. And yes, we had a "curve ball", health issues that cost us over $12,000.00 out of pocket the first year it happened. I don't think $20/month on our taxes one way or another would have helped or hurt us at that point. Life is full of curve balls, we should all know that by now. You weren't being "presumptuous and judgmental" about how fortunate I have been or how secure my job is, were you? "

" I agree with Mandan dude concerning the streets west of Ressler Chev. A person can hardly drive on 2nd st. anymore due to its condition. When is some work going to be done on it? What about the heavily traveled 12th Ave.? They did fill in one spot that had a big hole but take a look at all the wide cracks in the street that should be filled. Rains just wear away more at these cracks. I do believe that the road crews should make a trip around town in the near future and do some minor repairs. "

" To Refund for taxes; Congratulations!on your refund that means that you received about a $20 a month reduction in taxes, I am not sure but do you live in Mandan? not all Mandan residents received a reduction, I did save $100 over last year. Sounds like you are justifying Mandan's high taxes and assuming that people have no business owning a home and stamping approval for the city to raise taxes through special assessments versus mills and assuming that people that use the computer are not involved in the community, pretty presumptuous and judgmental. You have been fortunate that life has not thrown you a "curve ball" where unexpected health problems leave you confined to a chair and a computer; and have great job security, not all Mandan residents have these blessings and for them a few extra hundreds a year can and does create a hardship especially when their seems to be no end in the spending and debt the commission is acquiring. Like I said you are fortunate but you are not the only resident that is effected by government decisions you and the Mayor should get out of your little world and broaden your view of the city of Mandan; get acquainted with residents that maybe can only afford a $100,000 home and maybe only receive social security. Contribute more! "

" What is the comment about selling tickets to the Girls Basketball team mean? Didn't quite get what you were saying. "

" Those dancing girls are not going to lower our taxes, just lower the respectability we have left. "

" MAYBE MANDAN COULD SELL TICKETS TO THE GIRL BASKETBALL TEAM AT A HIGH PRICE TO HELP PAY FOR THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED IN THIS LITTLE TOWN. "MANDAN WHERE WEST BEGAN - I AM NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT. "

" Just recently I received a refund check from my mortgage company because the escrow for taxes had too much money and they can't hold it. That check was nearly $200. Our house payment also dropped because the escrow was not calling for as much money for taxes. I would consider that better than going the other way, which it has, at times. It wasn't called a mill levy, or anything like that, it was a refund for funds not needed for the taxes. It all rounds out. If the refund letter would have said "here's a reduction in mill levy" would you understand it then? People, stop trying to pick this apart like you know all the angles, and try to understand the information presented for what it is. Grow up, people. Look beyond Mandan and see what is happening out there to everyone and everything. The national economy is not that great, and all that passes down to all of us on a state and local level and we deal with it. You people talk like other cities have no taxes. If I can't afford a few hundred dollars a year more in taxes than some other city may have, I don't have any business owning a home like mine if I cut it that close. My $175,000 home would probably have a value in Bismarck of $180,000 or higher. This home five miles east would probably have higher taxes just based on value. Stop arguing for the sake of arguing. I'm a plain little ol' citizen who does not have all the answers, but I don't think the town watchdogs do, either. Sitting at a computer complaiing is sure a lot easier than getting out there, supporting our city, doing the legwork and doing what we can do to reduce taxes (like keep our money here). That's my contribution - try it. "

" http://www.nd.gov/tax/genpubs/2006-redbook.pdf This is State of ND Tax Dept publ that lists Mandan at #1. Specifically on page 83 of the publication. By the way, anyone know who is getting the revenue of the thousands of gallons remediated fuel/gas that was recovered and I assume sold? "

" PLEASE BRING THE DANCING GIRLS BACK TO MANDAN THEN POEPLE WILL START SPENDING MONEY AND YOUR TAXES WILL GO DOWN. "

" That's not what I hear from friends who are house hunting. They say there is a noticeable difference in prices between the 2 cities. "

" In dollar amount compared to West Fargo, Dickinson and Jamestown all similiar size to Mandan. We are Number 2, if using the same information as Mayor Lamont is using but putting it in dollar and cents like "the Point" says that is how the "real" world works. A mill buys nothing in the terms of what my family needs; the city needs,maybe but I pay my taxes in real money not mills and taxes takes away from what I would have to put towards my family. Check it out for all to view at bbuz.biz, West Fargo is number 1 of these 4 looking at what a mill is worth. West Fargo according to their city manager their population is at 24,000 vs Mandan 17,000. Mandan was number one for the source used by the Bismarck Tribune in $$$ on a 100,000 dollar. Mayor Lamont the POINT is we do not like our taxes number 1,2,3,4, or 5; the taxes are too high!!! Denial does not create positive solutions. As for the sales tax, I surely would not be bragging about a 2% increase in the 4th quarter,(down 3% since last quarter) that is not going to counter the spending you and the rest of the commission have in store for Mandan before your terms are up. "

" I would like to know where all these new businesses are? All I have seen are some restarunts. Nothing that will really help Mandan. "

" I agree w/ Ms. Beehler. People could really care less what the mill levy is. They don't buy diapers, food, and make car payments with mill levies. They do it with MONEY and more and more MONEY is coming out of their pockets each year to finance Mandan's so-called "improvements". The way the tax code is written the cities can drop the mill levies and still increase taxes because the properties assessment value increases more than the mill levy drops. The local gov't still gets more money. In my opinion, the entire property tax system needs an overhaul. The way the values in property have skyrocketed the past few years, people can't keep up with the tax increases. Something has to be done soon, or I would bet these lawmakers (local and state) will find themselves out of a job come election time. "

" My Mandan/Morton taxes went up 10% (no specials). Like the insider said, it's a bunch of BS to brag that you reduced mils when you know the property values increased and there is still an overall net increase in funds collected. "

" Ah geesz. that's great on the housing. I live in Mandan and accept that taxes are a part of life. HOWEVER, what are these taxes paying for? Mandan (except Main) has the worst streets and sidewalks, curbs around. For example take a drive from Ressler's and go west on Third, Second or First. One is so bad it will pop your fillings loose! Now do we even have to mention the abysmal situation of trying to get across First street? You are taking your life in your hands becvause you can't see do to Mandan's decision to go with diagonal parking instead of parallel. "

" Mayor Lamont the city commissioner Dan Ulmer wrote a column back in February slamming me; about how he felt I give "half-truths"; now you are doing what Ulmer complained that he thought I was doing; comparing apples to oranges. The league of cities may have 2006 city mill levies as lower but the Tribune article was comparing the taxes for a home in Mandan, which includes taxes for the city, county, and park not just the city. The city has gone done in mills, yes, that is good, but the city is going through the back door now and raising our taxes through special assessments, which is much easier for the city to do because it does not require a vote and can happen at any time. The mills are easier for most taxpayers to track because this final determination is during the budget approval process in the fall. Overall taxes in Mandan for a $100,000 home; we are number 1 according to the State Commissioner's Tax report available on the Tax Department website. Mayor Lamont, you should read it. The city cannot spend money like they are without someone paying for it. Special assessments is raising taxes; sneaking by the unsuspecting homeowners in Mandan. Go to the Sales Tax Report and you will see our taxes our down, collection maybe up but the sales and uses purchases are down. Who should we believe the lobbying group for the cities NDLC, the "demolition" Mayor or the "tax" man, Cory Fong? "

" I recently bought a home in mandan (yeah i know, probably not a smart move!), but there is almost NO difference between home prices in Bismarck and Mandan. A $150,000 home is essentially the same on either side of the river. It used to be true, and prior to even 2006/2007, it was true, but not any more. "

" All these stats should bring the hungry wolves out. Let the feeding frenzy commence! "

" please note that a small decrease in mil rate can still result in a net increase in property tax. the tax you pay is mil rate multiplied by assessed value. in this case the mil rate only decreased by 2.5%. property values have increased by more than 2.5% so the net property tax still increased. "