Hatlestad’s Sales Tax Bill to Help Schools Advances to Committee

Bismarck, ND (KEYZ)  A bill that would allow the use of a one penny sales tax to pay off school expansion bonds, is headed for committee discussion on Thursday this week, having survived it's initial committee hearing last Friday. Introduced by Williston district one representative Patrick Hatlestad, the bill would grant property tax payers relief when it comes to paying for schools expansion.
"Well, it gives the school district another option. It helps to fund their bonded indebtedness and gets away from property tax and allows them to ask for the city or county to provide a sales tax and that revenue then would be used to pay down the debt," says Hatlestad.
Hatlestad says if passed into law, school districts would go before the city commissions, and ask for the sales tax be put on the ballot, and should the commissioners agree, it would then go to the voters.
"We're looking at making it available to counties as well that way the sales tax will provide for all the school districts in Williams County," he said.
The Bill is now ready for committee discussion this week with a possible recommendation on Thursday, leading to a possible floor vote next week. It received the full support of Williston School District one who's members testified favorably last week.