Orlin W. Backes, Minot
I recently took a tour of the Ward County Courthouse built in 1929 and the Ward County Jail built in 1984. There is a critical and urgent need for more space for the employees to take proper care of the needs of Ward County residents. In addition to inadequate space for employees in the courthouse, Ward County spends $332,000 a year to rent space outside the courthouse which is paid by property taxes on our homes, farms and businesses.
The proposal to use a 1/2 cent sales tax to pay for the addition to the courthouse and jail will lessen the burden on our property taxes since the county will no longer use property taxes to pay the $332,000 in rent. Also, a good portion of the sales tax will be paid by those from outside Ward County who use the services that are provided by the citizens of our county.
That is why I support the November ballot measure to pay for these much needed county projects.