BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — If you're still trying to decide how to vote on the five ballot measures November 5, here's a roundup of KX articles discussing each proposal: In General: What you need to know about the five measures on the November ballot Measure #1: Replaces outdated terms used for several public institutions in North Dakota. For example, "The school for the deaf and dumb" in Devils Lake would be changed to "the school for the deaf and hard of hearing." A "state hospital for the insane" in Jamestown would be changed to "a state hospital for the care of individuals with mental illness." And an "institution for the feebleminded" in Grafton would be changed to "a facility for individuals with developmental disabilities." Measure #2: Changes the process for citizen-initiated constitutional ballot measures. Among the changes: A citizen-initiated ballot measure would need to be approved by voters in two elections to be enacted. Currently, it takes only one election. A citizen-initiated ballot measure would be limited to a single subject. The North Dakota Secretary of State would decide if a measure had only one subject. It would increase the number of signatures needed to place a citizen-initiated constitutional measure on the ballot, changing it from 4% to 5% of the population. Those circulating petitions would be required to be ND residents, residents of their precinct at least 30 days before an election, at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen. Those signing petitions would be required to use a residential address and not a P.O. Box. North Dakota measure would place limits on future ballot initiatives Measure #3: Makes changes to spending and transfers from the Legacy Fund, such as decreasing the amount of money the North Dakota Legislature could spend from the fund’s principal in their 2-year budget. The Legacy Fund is a "rainy day fund" to save a portion of oil and gas revenue for the future. Thirty percent of the taxes on petroleum produced and extracted in North Dakota are transferred to the Legacy Fund monthly, and the fund value as of May 31, 2024 is more than $10.5 billion. Measure #3 would make these changes: It would decrease the amount of the principal the Legislature could spend in a biennium (2-year period). Only 5% of the principal could be spent every two years instead of 15%. Funds transferred into the Legacy Fund would also have to include any earnings accrued by those funds prior to July 1, 2017. Both the transferred funds and their earnings would be considered part of the Legacy Fund's principle. It would change the language of investment, so that the state investment board would invest the "moneys" in the Legacy Fund, instead of the "principal" of the fund. The state treasurer would make a distribution from the Legacy Fund to a legacy earnings fund on July 1st of every odd-numbered year and may not spend any of the principal when doing so. Currently, the state treasurer transfers earnings to the state’s general fund every 2 years. State lawmakers explain Measure 3's impact on the Legacy Fund Measure #4: Local governments wouldn’t be allowed to levy, or charge, property taxes based on the assessed property value of property within their limits. This is how local governments currently raise revenue to pay for a portion of their budget. The only exception would be for the payment of bonded indebtedness incurred by early December 2024. The state would be required to replace the property tax revenue by making payments yearly to the local governments in the amount levied on property tax in the 2024 calendar year. The State Tax Commissioner’s projected fiscal impact of the measure is an estimated $3.15 billion increase in the state’s biennial (2-year) expenditures beginning in 2025. Currently, a local government’s debt cannot exceed 5% of the taxable property value within its limits, and this measure would decrease it to 2½%. Currently, the voters in an incorporated city can approve by a ⅔ vote to increase the debt of the city by 3% of the taxable property value, and this measure would decrease it to 1½%. Currently, the voters in a school district can approve by a majority vote to increase the district’s debt by 5% of the taxable property value, and this measure would decrease it to 2½%. Currently, a local government can hold an additional 4% debt for water projects, and this measure would decrease it to 2%. A local government would not be able to issue a general obligation bond paid for by property taxes on or after January 1, 2025 KX "Voice of the People" podcast interviews on Measure #4 How the election results will impact property taxes North Dakota Farmers Union backs property tax Measure #4 Measure #5: This measure would legalize recreational marijuana, or cannabis, in North Dakota. The measure would make it legal for adults ages 21 and older to produce, process, sell, and use cannabis and would appoint a state body to regulate cannabis-related businesses in North Dakota. The measure would allow for up to 7 cannabis manufacturing facilities and 18 dispensaries in North Dakota and outlines a process for registration and regulation of cannabis businesses, including that they are not to be located within 1,000 feet of a school. The measure sets a maximum amount of cannabis products an adult age 21 and older could purchase in a single transaction and would allow an adult age 21 and older to grow up to 3 cannabis plants on their private property. Cannabis consumers would not be able to use or consume cannabis products in a public place, on the grounds of a cannabis business, or in a motor vehicle, and they would be prohibited from driving under the influence of cannabis. The pros and cons of initiated measure 5 North Dakota health care, law enforcement groups come out against Measure 5 Retired law enforcement official, retired mayor discuss Measure #5 Bismarck Local Measure 1: This plan would levy a half-cent sales tax. The proceeds of this tax would go towards public safety and transportation needs. Bis-Man Transit expresses support for local Measure 1 Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW