We at the Aurora Hospital are asking the city of Grand Forks for a five year step down tax abatement, which allows a new business to pay reduced real estate taxes during their start up phase. No individual taxpayer dollars will be used to fund the hospital. Starting a new hospital is an enormous undertaking that involves tremendous start up costs. A real estate tax abatement can help to offset some of those upfront costs. Even with the tax abatement, after one year we will be contributing over $100,000 to the City of Grand Forks. Once the tax abatement expires, our estimated tax contribution to the City of Grand Forks will be a minimum of $528,000 each year. If you feel that the tax abatement for Aurora Hospital is the right thing for Grand Forks, please sign this petition. For additional support, you can contact your City Council members to express your feelings before the April 23rd Council Meeting. PLEASE NOTE: Once you submit your name, you will see a page asking for a donation for iPetitions, the online petition service. This is NOT related to Aurora Hospital. You have NO obligation to give iPetitions a donation. All we ask is that you sign our petition to demonstrate your support for the tax abatement for Aurora Hospital.