The fate of the $1.7 million Grand Forks County Old Jail renovation project - and the future of the Public Safety Answering Point's relocation to the facility - may well rest with the North Dakota Legislature and House Bill 1051.
The bill, as currently written, would cap local property tax increases at 3.5 percent.
At 3.5 percent, the county's budget probably could not handle a $1.7 million construction project on top of other budgetary needs, which include a potential $1 million shortfall at the new county correctional center.
"If you put caps in, it'll be very difficult to complete the project," said Gary Malm, who chairs both the Grand Forks County Commission and its building committee.
The Senate Finance and Tax Committee conducted a hearing Wednesday on the bill. Representatives of the North Dakota Association of Counties testified against state-mandated limits on local property taxes.
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In December, the County Commission approved spending as much as $1.3 million on the project, with the remainder funded by the city of Grand Forks, which operates the PSAP.
The building committee this week decided to put the Old Jail renovation on hold - and delay selling bonds for the project - at least until the Legislature settles the property tax cap issue.
The PSAP, which currently is housed across the street in the Grand Forks Law Enforcement Building, tentatively is scheduled to move by December to the second floor of the Old Jail, which already houses the county juvenile detention center.
Architects have said it likely would take nine months to complete the project. That timetable would push the project completion date to mid-December or even January 2008, depending on when the issue is settled in the Legislature.
The building committee also decided this week to leave the first floor of the Old Jail vacant in an effort to save money.
The committee has been debating placement of an elevator and a holding cell on the first floor. It also has been discussing other possible uses.
The Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department and the States Attorney's Office have indicated an interest in using the first floor for file and equipment storage, as well as for office space.
"We don't need any more spending," Malm said. "We think it should remain gutted for now. Maybe we can use it in a future time, when we have a long look at what is needed."
