A bill codifying language exempting housing owned by school districts for certified teachers to be tax exempt cleared another legislative hurdle on Wednesday (2/7).

 

House Bill 1143, which revises certain provisions regarding the tax exemption of certain school owned property, passed the Senate Taxation committee on a 7-0 vote.

 

ASBSD supports the bill.

 

“Housing for them (teachers) is usually the tipping point,” ASBSD Executive Director Wade Pogany said, adding the difficulty school districts in sparsely populated areas face in recruiting teachers.

 

“This (exemption) is an important piece of their program.”

 

HB 1143’s codification comes after legal challenge between a county and a school district took place recently over the tax exemption. The bill will not result in an additional tax burden for local tax payers because it has never been previously collected and will continue to be a benefit to sparse schools.

 

“This is a big boon for us to draw people (to the school district),” Eagle Butte Business Manager Keith Watt testified.

 

HB 1143 now moves to the Senate floor for review.

 

For updates on this bill and others throughout session, check the ASBSD Blog, Bill Tracker page and Twitter feed.