In Bismarck, North Dakota, a long running discussion about special assessments provided manufactured home owners a surprise.
One that they weren’t necessarily looking for.
According to FOX West Dakota, some manufactured home property managers were surprised to learn they were paying more than traditional homeowners on special assessments.
“Well they’re paying the same level for taxes as other conventional homes. They don’t get the same services and they are assessed at a higher ratio,” said Myron Atkinson, owner of the Tatley Meadows home community.
By rule, anything classified as commercial property pays special assessments at a two to one rate. Manufactured homes recently received a slight reduction, spurred by a group represented by Atkinson. The Daily Business News covered that story here.
“There is a compromise made for manufactured home parks [sic] that they charge somewhere between one and two, or a 1.5 factor for street related special assessments,” said Gabe Schell, City Engineer for Bismarck.
“Usually the commercial properties have a higher property tax value to them and have more benefit, we would say, from having an infrastructure network.”
Even though his group made some progress, Atkinson says they just want what’s fair.
“We’re not asking that manufactured homeowners get a break. We’re asking that everyone gets treated the same,“ said Atkinson.
“Right now, things aren’t.”
The city has opted to create a task force to evaluate special assessments in the city, and the task force will take a look at how the city uses and charges special assessments and will report their findings to the city council and mayor.
For more on the region, including ELS Chairman Sam Zell’s plans to double down on his previous investment in North Dakota’s Bakken play, click here. ##
(Image credits are as shown above.)
Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews
