It’s a lot at first glance.

Minot Public School District is considering a bond issue to build a new high school and renovate Central Campus into a middle school – price tag: $40 million to $50 million.

Minot City Council is considering a 22.6% increase to its budget. The money is earmarked for new staff, flood project construction and landfill infrastructure.

Ward County commissioners are looking for approximately a 16% increase.

What do all these things have in common? The money comes from one source, the taxpayers.

Be it a federal tax, a state tax, a local tax, sales tax, or whatever type of tax you want to talk about. It all comes from the same source.

There is no free money when it comes to the government.

We’re not here to argue the merits of each line item included in the budget increases. You’re elected boards, elected to do a job, and represent the taxpayers.

But we think, County Commission Chairman John Fjeldahl made a very important point to his fellow commissioners when he cautioned about relying on one-time sources of revenue.

So, to all three boards, we ask….

If the increased spending is going to continue past next year, how are you going to pay for it?

Coming out of the pandemic, and using history as our guide, we are certain that any federal money that is promised this year will likely be long gone next year when the time comes to start talking budgets again.

To put it bluntly, if these budget expense items are more than a one-year increase, it will likely be on the chopping block next year.

It’s great to have wish lists.

But there is only one reliable source for tax dollars.

That isn’t the federal government.

It is the constituents/taxpayers that voted you into office.