×

Pandemic money could bring Ward County taxes down

Pandemic money could rescue taxpayers

Jill Schramm/MDN Ward County Commissioners Jim Rostad, Shelly Weppler and John Fjeldahl, from left, look over information at the start of commission discussion on a preliminary budget Tuesday.

Property taxes are up nearly 7% in a preliminary budget approved by the Ward County Commission Tuesday, but additional adjustments are pending that could wipe out that increase.

One of those adjustments is a proposal by Gov. Doug Burgum, recently approved by the state Emergency Commission, to reimburse counties and cities for the salary and benefits of law enforcement officers from March through September using federal dollars from the CARES Act. The legislative Budget Section will consider confirming the Emergency Commission’s action on Aug. 13. Total cost is estimated at $59 million.

The law officer reimbursement for Ward County is estimated at $1.7 million. That money would carry over to cover law enforcement costs in 2021. It represents more than 5 mills so would more than eliminate the estimated 4.19-mill increase in the current preliminary budget. However, the commission is waiting on the state’s final action and reimbursement calculations.

Counties would be asked to submit payroll bills for sworn, certified law officers from March through July for immediate reimbursement. Reimbursement for August through September would come later.

Ward County’s preliminary budget, now that it is adopted, cannot be increased but it can be decreased. The Ward County Commission set a public hearing on the preliminary budget for Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Ward County Administration Building.

The proposed $55.29 million preliminary budget for 2021 is down more than $2 million. However, the property tax needed to support that budget is up. The estimated mill levy of 66.01 mills is higher by 4.19 mills. Dollars levied are up $1.54 million.

For the owner of a $200,000 home, the estimated tax of $594.09 would be up $37.71. For the owner of a quarter of farmland, the estimated tax is $292.56, which is $18.57 higher.

Commissioners still are hoping to reduce the cost of the county’s health insurance plan as they continue to consider options for providing that insurance to employees. The current health insurance plan before the commission reflects a 23% premium increase.

Commissioner Alan Walter commended the county departments for keeping their budget requests down.

“I don’t know how much more we can ask of them, but we have to remember that from 2019 to 2020, the mill levy dropped 9 mills. If we don’t get the $1.7 million, we’re going to see an increase of 4.19 mills from this year to next year, but that’s still 5 mills down from 2019,” Walter said.

Commission Chairman John Fjeldahl noted a big part of the drop this year came from the state taking over social services.

“The idea of the state doing that was to alleviate property taxes, and we are slowly creeping back up there,” he said.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today