Parks’ budget increases maintenance, cuts property taxes
Trending
Minot property owners will see a larger decrease in the park district's share of their property taxes than originally forecast when voters approved a half percent sales tax for parks in June.
The sales tax measure capped the property tax at 26 mills, down from 38 mills, for the general fund.
Elly DesLauriers, executive director for the park district, said the 2027 preliminary budget approved by the Minot Park Board Tuesday, July 21, includes 18.4 mills, or 7.6 mills less than the cap.
"We just took a hard look at our departments," she said. "We just felt it was very important to keep an eye on that property tax.
"We are hoping we continue down the path we are starting out on this year," she added of future budgets.
The owner of a $250,000 home who saw a 5.25% assessment increase - equivalent to the overall property valuation increase of the city as a whole - can expect a property tax decrease of $170 in the park district's share of the tax bill. The 5.25% assessment increase reflects the total of all property changes, and individual property owners could see more, less or no change.
The general fund levy in the proposed park budget will decline by 42.4% with the addition of the sales tax, which is estimated to bring in $6.5 million, according to the park district. The additional sales tax funds will be used to complete capital and maintenance projects.
"You are just going to see a lot more maintenance projects getting completed with that sales tax," DesLauriers said. Some projects that have had delayed maintenance will now be on the list for completion, she said.
At the top of the 2027 list are court resurfacing at Green Valley and Leach Parks; grading, drainage and fencing on the east end of the SCHEELS Complex and backfill on the Woodland Trail to address wear and tear from usage. Improvements to Roosevelt Park Zoo and Corbett Field also are on the list.
Excluding the capital and maintenance projects, budget expenses increased by $70,534, the park district reported. Total spending in the 2027 preliminary budget is $19.1 million, of which $4.22 million is designated for capital and maintenance items.
A building levy, which is separate from the general fund, is expected to generate about $1.26 million, as it also did in 2026. A proposed debt levy of $1.88 million is down from $2.1 million in 2026.
A public hearing on the preliminary budget is set for Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 5:30 p.m. in the community room of the Minot Municipal Auditorium.