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County begins drafting 2020 budget

Carryover cash could mean less pressure on taxes

File photo A house from the Ward County Historical Society’s Pioneer Village awaits placement on a foundation at the new museum site in Burlington. The society is seeking additional county money to help with relocation expenses.

The tax situation is looking positive for Ward County property owners as a preliminary draft of a 2020 budget begins coming together.

The Ward County Commission met Wednesday and Thursday to take input from departments and outside agencies that receive funding for the purpose of directing staff preparing a spending plan.

Anticipated cash carryover could help hold down taxes, Auditor Devra Smestad said.

“It will definitely reduce the levy,” she said. “I’m pleasantly surprised right now.”

Smestad reported to commissioners that the county is on track to have more than $6.3 million on hand at the end of the year. In comparison, the county carried over $1.3 million into the current budget.

About $2.4 million of the anticipated carryover results from a change in health insurance that is saving significantly in premiums. The remainder consists of a number of smaller costs savings that are adding up to overall expenses coming in under budget, Smestad said.

Commissioners acknowledged that actual spending rather than budgeted spending in 2019 will be a starting place for comparison with any proposed 2020 preliminary budget. A number of budget requests for 2020 are up.

David Leite, president of the Ward County Historical Society, spoke on the group’s $75,561 request, which is up from $40,000 received in 2019. He explained the society, which stands to receive $100,000 from the North Dakota State Fair and $150,000 from the state for relocation, continues to have expenses in completing the establishment of the museum in Burlington.

The society also has plans for an interpretative trail and expansion of its coal exhibit to incorporate the mining history around the new Burlington location. Also, through the move, it was discovered some buildings will need repair because of age-related deterioration or 2011 flood damage, Leite said. He added the society has been fundraising and seeking grants.

Andy Fimrite, president of DeSour Economic Development Corp. in Burlington, listed the recruitment of the historical society among accomplishments of the organization in the past year. DeSour donated land for the society.

“Our intentions are to help them quite a bit,” he said. “We want to help promote them. Next year, we are planning on asking for considerable more money because we want to promote everything that’s going on in Burlington.”

DeSour, which received $23,500 this year, is requesting $31,000 from the county.

Other recent progress in Burlington has included the opening of a Dollar General, construction of a new splash pad to open next month, school additions and growth in two housing developments.

The county received requests from economic development groups totaling $150,500, which is up from about $130,000 allocated this year. It also received requests for $107,211 from historical preservation groups.

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