A public hearing will be held Tuesday on the proposed 2012 Grand Forks County budget.
The Grand Forks County Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on the Sixth Floor of the County Office Building, 151 S. Fourth St., to listen to comments on the proposed budget, which includes a 2.75 percent increase in the county's property tax levy.
The budget calls for a 1.54-mill property tax increase. That would mean an estimated tax increase of $6.93 for each $100,000 of the true and full value of residential property or $7.70 for each $100,000 of commercial or agricultural property, according to Debbie Nelson, director of finance and tax.
The exact mill increase will not be determined until the North Dakota State Board of Equalization sets the county's total taxable property value in October. Nelson said it should be about the 1.54 mill figure. County officials are using an estimated $200,593 for 2012 budget purposes, pending the board of equalization's final decision.
The budget includes 128.03 mills. In 2011, the county levied 126.49 mills, and one mill brought in $193,481.
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The proposed budget totals just less than $37.4 million, including $8.5 million in the general fund and $28.9 million in special revenue funds.
The preliminary budget, as proposed by the county's finance committee, includes a 2.5 percent wage increase for all employees. It also includes an increase in employees' contributions to the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System.
The North Dakota Legislature this year approved a 2 percent increase to the retirement fund, to make up for an estimated 30 percent shortfall in money the system needs to pay all its promised benefits. The Legislature's action called for the state to pay 1 percent and employees to pay 1 percent.
The commission's finance committee is recommending the county pay the employees' 1 percent share in addition to the mandated 1 percent county share, Nelson said.
Reach Bonham at (701) 780-1110; (800) 477-6572, ext. 110; or send email to kbonham@gfherald.com .
