Oil Tax Plan

The whole state benefits from andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t oilandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt oilandamp lt aandamp gt activity But who s picking up the bill for the wear and tear in oil country You don t have to look far to see the benefits from the oil industry in andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t north-dakotaandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt North Dakotaandamp lt aandamp gt Taxes collected from oil and gas revenue gave you andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t property-taxandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt property taxandamp lt aandamp gt relief and padded state programs But as andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t donnell-preskeyandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Donnell Preskeyandamp lt aandamp gt reports counties in the western part of the state say they need a bigger chunk of the kick-back because of the hit they take from to oil activity With every rig that goes up about 1 000 trucks travel back and forth to the site Wear and tear that benefits our state but rural areas pick up the bill andamp quot That s what we dont think is fair andamp quot This packed hearing room is an example of how many feel the same way Bekkedahl does There are several bills this legislative session proposing to increase the amount of oil and gas tax revenue that returns to the areas where the oil activity is Brad Bekkedahl andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t williston-ndandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Willistonandamp lt aandamp gt City Commissioner andamp quot the state has no cost to maintan the infastructure for this development it s all on the counties cities township That s why we need the money andamp quot They say they re not getting enough money Currently counties get a certain amount of the oil and gas tax revenue when they hit that cap they get no more funding from the state andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t mountrail-county-ndandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Mountrail Countyandamp lt aandamp gt already hit that level in November now they have a long road ahead Vicky Steiner andamp quot try to change so co doesn t hit that cap level and then the state takes 100 of revenue - it just doesn t work with today s oil activity The amount of traffic weight of the trucks damage that s being done Infastructure needs to be replaced andamp quot Steiner says counties should continue to get some funding even if it is a small percentage Bekkedahl andamp quot our needs and our development costs don t cap We still have costs to fix roads build schools provide emergency services Above the cap level our citizens paying for it and state is reeping the benefit andamp quot Because seeing is believing North Dakota oil counties posted a video on You Tube so everyone everywhere can see the impacts of oil activity Steiner andamp quot absolutely amazed when shot video how much traffic there is andamp quot The counties in oil country don t think they re being greedy with their request Hauck we dont want it all back just our share to maintain infastructure Don t get the wrong idea they want the oil activity But they re afraid a neglected oil patch sends an unwelcome message to oil companies andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t john-hoevenandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Governor Hoevenandamp lt aandamp gt has included in his budget more money to go to counties impacted by oil development but the oil producing counties say they need even more