FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Rick Clayburgh, Tax Commissioner   701-328-2770
July 25, 2001	Marcy Dickerson, Acting State Supervisor of Assessments, 701-328-3141

Board of Equalization to Hold Tax Assessment Hearings

BISMARCK --- Tax Commissioner Rick Clayburgh announced today that electric and gas companies, railroads, airlines, and pipelines will all have a chance to discuss tentative property tax assessments with the State Board of Equalization.  The State Board of Equalization will hold the public hearing on August 7 as they review those companies’ tentative property tax assessments.

For 2001, the total tentative taxable value of these companies’ operating properties in North Dakota is $89,921,800, up 20 percent from $74,622,270 in 2000.

“These tax dollars go to support local government,” said Clayburgh.  “Schools, cities, park districts, counties and townships receive a percentage of the revenue from these taxes.”

By type of company, the tentative taxable values for 2001 as compared to 2000 assessments are as follows:

                                                         2000                          2001

                                                  Taxable Valuation      Taxable Valuation           % Change

Electric & Gas                             $ 18.86 million          $  18.85 million             -    0.06

Railroads                                       16.57 million              17.28 million             +   4.23

Air Transportation Companies              .43 million                 .44 million             +   2.92

Pipelines                                         36.03 million           49.97 million               + 38.66

Carbon Dioxide Pipeline                    2.71 million            3.38 million                + 24.44

The Board will meet at 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday August 7, at the State Capitol in the 8^th floor Conference Room of the Office of State Tax Commissioner.

Clayburgh said, “A hearing on the valuation of the electric and gas companies, railroads, airlines, and pipelines and on the telecommunications gross receipts tax is included in the agenda.”  Clayburgh added, “We will discuss local assessments for residential, commercial and agricultural properties during another meeting.”

The State Board of Equalization will conduct a final review and hold a public hearing on those local assessments on August 14.  The Board consists of the Governor (chairman), Tax Commissioner (secretary), Agriculture Commissioner, State Auditor, and State Treasurer.