GF County Home Rule Charter, sales tax go to voters Nov. 8

The issue of Home Rule Charter in Grand Forks County will go to a public vote.

On the recommendation of a committee, the County Commission today (Tue) passed final language of the charter, including two questions on the Nov. 8^th ballot.

One asks if the County should OK a Home Rule charter. The other asks: should the charter include a half-cent sales tax?

The Commission passed two motions by 4-to-1 votes, with Diane Knauf dissenting, saying she prefers one question on the ballot; not two.

Commission chair Tom Falck says the committee decided on two questions after feedback from a survey.

“All were convinced it should be a two-question part of the ballot because some people indicated they may be in favor of home rule but may not be in favor of sales tax, or vice versa,” Falck said. “So it gives you the opportunity if the home rule charter passed and sales tax doesn’t, you can still then adjust down the road and ask a separate question on that tax.”

The breakdown of the half-cent sales tax would have 60 percent go to financing County infrastructure needs… 20 percent to property tax relief… and 20 percent to roads, bridges and culverts…with a sunset of Dec. 31, 2048.

The county needs money because the jail and juvenile detention center are strained by aging issues, and the Sheriff’s Office needs a new home.