The Ward County Commission on Wednesday approved half of the $229,952 requested by the department to augment salaries and discourage an exodus of law enforcement officers to the Minot Police Department, which has been aggressively recruiting. The salary adjustments would take place halfway through next year, funded by about $63,000 in savings identified by the Sheriff’s Department in its budget and about $52,000 from additional county taxes.

The final 2026 budget settled on by the commission is around $500,000 less than the county could have spent under the 3% cap on property tax increases allowed in state law, according to information provided by County Auditor/Treasurer Marisa Haman.

Final calculations will be presented to commissioners Friday, Sept. 26, when they meet to adopt the final budget.

Commissioner Jason Olson’s motion to grant additional funds to the Sheriff’s Department during the second half of 2026 came on a 4-1 vote, with Chairman John Fjeldahl voting against.

Jill Schramm/MDN Ward County Commissioner Ron Merritt, right, speaks during budget discussions on the Ward County Water Board Sept. 24 as Commissioner Jim Rostad listens at left.

Fjeldahl questioned the argument that Ward County’s law enforcement salaries are much lower than Minot’s salaries.

“I don’t see the disparities,” Fjeldahl said after examining information presented to the commission.

Sheriff Robert Roed said the county is in line with the city at its entry level positions, and likely ahead, given the county’s better benefits package.

“We start to fall behind as you advance through your years of service and through your rank. It’s not so much a raise in salaries as a (pay plan) grade adjustment that we’re asking for,” he said.

Roed said the goal is to retain people who have more years of experience.

Commissioner Ron Merritt said when comparing the value of the county’s health insurance and other benefits, the county comes much closer to the city’s overall package.

“That makes this discussion very difficult,” he said.

Chief Deputy Larry Hubbard said four officers who are planning on leaving for the city department are aware of the benefits difference, but they also are attracted by the pay raises the city is promising if they stay and advance on the city’s pay plan.

“They’re looking at their future,” he said. “They’re not looking six months from now. They’re looking a year and half, two years from now.”

Fjeldahl questioned the Sheriff Department’s adjusted pay plan, citing its significant salary raises across the board even though the concern focuses on retaining veteran officers. Hubbard explained adjustments need to be made throughout the pay plan to avoid creating inequities over time among the different grades in the plan.

For financial and planning reasons, the commission opted to fund half the proposed pay plan.

“It’s hard for us to really dig into this and do a good job of it on such a short notice,” Merritt told Roed and Hubbard. “I certainly don’t want you to lose your employees, but also we’re in a very tough position. It’s hard to come up with that kind of money on a short notice. And we want to know that we have to come up with it, too.”

Hubbard agreed it was short notice. The salary concern only came up in recent weeks as officers in the Sheriff’s Department began showing an interest in city positions. In addition to four who have applied with the city, three others have indicated they are considering it.

“I think there are some that are leaving that are going to leave no matter what we do here,” Olson said. “I also think there’s some that are leaving that are leaving for reasons other than pay.”

“I’m hoping that this motion gives people who aren’t in those situations pause when they’re thinking about potentially moving,” Commissioner Miranda Schuler added. “My hope is that it gives the employees who are fairly comfortable in their position now some pause and makes them realize that they’re appreciated.”

Schuler also said replacing officers won’t be easy in the current job market, creating the likelihood of cost savings in the short term with unfilled positions. That savings could cover a good deal of the $52,000 in wage increases, she said.

“I would just say that you never know if they’re going to be unfilled,” Fjeldahl responded. “The figures we’ve looked at here demonstrate that we’re paying as high, if not higher, on the entry level.”

Merritt noted the salary changes made for half of 2026 will carry over and need to be dealt with for a full year in 2027.

“I’ll support the half a year, but we’re going to have this discussion again before we implement our budget next year – just because we have caps to deal with and this is going to be a big increase,” he said.

Commissioners also finalized a health plan for 2026 after cutting a projected 10% cost increase in half by reducing the richness of the benefits for employees. However, the plan still ranks as one of the better in the healthcare marketplace, according to the county’s healthcare consultant.

The commission made no changes to previously approved 2026 appropriations to outside organizations, although it indicated last week an interest in doing so. Outside organizations include historical societies, community economic development groups, water boards and First District Health.

The commission visited with Ward County Water Resource Board President Tom Klein about a potential cut, given the board’s large cash reserves, but declined to make a change after learning the reserve funds were committed to active projects.

Schuler recommended the commission create a subcommittee prior to the 2027 budget process to review requests from outside organizations more in depth.

“We need to be looking at these more closely, especially when we’re asking each department to look at their budgets more tightly,” she said.