Oil companies are reluctant to build new refineries because it would take 20 years for it to start making money.

20 years from now we may be a hydrogren based economy instead of oil, making that refinery obsolete.

They tried state ownership like you suggest. It was called the Soviet Union. I wonder how that turned out?

Truth is North Dakota is really humming. Creighton University just ranked us tops in the Midwest for economic vitality. Forbes said we were one of the top ten states to do business in. The ND Census committe just released numbers that show we are finally starting to retain young people. We have 25,000 more jobs than in 2000. 2,000 more businesses. Almost every sector is growing. Personal income is even growing faster than the national average.

This is a great time to be living in North Dakota and the future looks even better if the Dems in Congress don't mess it up with higher taxes and radical energy policies.

When considering the increase of property taxes, look at the value of your property that has risen. If you have 300 mills assessed against a $75,000.00 property and 5 years later the same property is valued $90,000.00 and assessed the same mills, then you will pay more. A school district in my area has had an increase in taxable valuation within its district and brought in more money, so they cut the school district mill levy by one mill. In 2009, due to the further valuation increase, they estimate their property tax revenue will increase $250,000.00 and they do not even have to raise the district mill levy. Higher property valuations are the cause of most of the property tax increases.

Ummm, you're supposed to post something and then let others reply to it.

Why not have a state run grocery store while were at it, since we have the highest priced groceries in the country?

Lets have a state run everything in ND. Wow....just think how we will all benefit.

whoot- You want renters rebate? Quit renting and buy a house. If you can afford to pay someone else's mortage by renting why not spend it on your own home??

Hoeven can be beat, and he needs it severely. They need to take the tax dollars they have in surplus and spend them on something that will have a residual income for the state. Why not build a state refinery in western North Dakota? Do not allow the fuel to be sent out of state, we have such a 'shortage' of fuel that we have to go all over looking for gas and our prices are higher than all  but Hawaii. If the corporate gas companies do not want to invest in refineries then we should do it as a state and reap the rewards of lower prices and a long term source of additional income.  We will always need fuel for our vehicles and equipment, why not secure our supply? If we use North Dakota oil to produce fuel for North Dakota we are lowering the need for oil from the middle east. The profit made off the oil would boost our income without raising taxes.

duhwayne,

The state hospital called. They said you are using the computer too much. Time to get back to reality.

Before everyone BMGs about property taxes, think of what you are getting for them. Money doesn't grow on trees. How do you expect to keep your roads funded? Your bridges (especially now after the MSP collapse)? Your fire, police and everything that is needed at the bare minimum to keep life sustained? You all are not looking at the big picture.

The most property taxes have gone up in most municipalities in the last 5 years is 11%. On an average $170,000 home, that means an increase of about $250 A YEAR... or $20 a month... or $0.60 a day. Are you all really going to gripe over a $0.60 a day increase in your property taxes? Look at what you are all getting. If you throw a fit and demand lower taxes, that HOW DO YOU PAY FOR EVERYTHING? That's why Republicans, including that Chimp-in-Chief of the United States, screw the budget up. Sure, it sounds good to cut taxes, but explain your massive deficit then.