In ND, big business rallies for property taxes

Who's lobbying to save property taxes in North Dakota? Why, it's the business lobby!

North Dakotans today are voting on a statewide constitutional amendment to abolish the property tax. The local and state chambers of commerce are full-throatedly opposing the ballot measure. The state Chamber writes:

The North Dakota Chamber of Commerce has led the largest public policy coalition in the North Dakota history, Keep it Local North Dakota, and is advocating for a NO vote on Measure 2.
For one example the Fargo Chamber of Commerce argues:

The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce opposes North Dakota Measure 2 which seeks to eliminate property taxes statewide. The measure will appear on the June 2012 statewide ballot. Measure 2, as currently set forth, completely eliminates a major funding source for North Dakota government. Accordingly, the complete repeal of property taxation by Measure 2 will be a major disruption of the foundation of North Dakota’s economic model.

But one North Dakotan had a different explanation for me: The value of these local chambers is basically in winning special tax credits and exemptions for businesses. Without property taxes, these Chambers won't have as much to offer businesses.

Sure enough, check out the Grand Forks chamber, touting all the special tax incentives you can get, including temporary property-tax abatements.