(KNOX) – The Grand Forks County Commission discussed possible budget cuts during a special work session on Tuesday, as they might have to cut $836,000 in order to get the 2027 budget down to the maximum cap for property tax levy increases. The $836,000 would not include possible raises for county employees.
The county commission also talked about health insurance and wage increases for employees. The possible wage increases don’t include proposed new county positions.
One option that was considered was that there would be no wage increases for employees and there would be all county department requests without changes, but that there would be a 20 percent increase to health insurance costs. Although, these decisions would result in the county being roughly $2 million over the maximum budget amount that is allowed with the 3 percent cap on tax increases. The three percent cap is mandated by the state legislature.
Another option would be cutting up to 30 percent of some contracted county services. Some services that could get cut would be the Grand Forks Humane Society, The Nest, the Grand Forks County weed board, the NDSU Extension, and the Grand Forks Public Library. The county would have to cut another $836,230 to reach the cap even with these cuts.
These options don’t include potential increases with cost-of-living adjustments and/or step increases for county employees. With both cost-of-living adjustments and a step increase, the county would have to pay $1 million in wages and benefits. There would be a $403,000 increase with step increases, and there would be a $634,000 increase with cost-of-living adjustments.
The wage increases also have cost-of-living adjustments for the commissioners and a five percent wage increase for the sheriff, the city administrator and the state’s attorney.
The county’s current health plan is expected to have a cost increase of 20 percent in next year’s budget. Commissioners mentioned the idea of switching from the county’s Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota plan to a plan with the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System.
If the county were to switch over to the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System, they would have the first seven months of 2027 to decide what they would contribute. NDPERS is also going to change their rates next July, and the county won’t find out what those new rates would be until May 2028.
The Commissioners are planning to hold another special budget meeting sometime early next week to talk about the insurance plan options.
The county needs to approve a preliminary draft of the budget by August 10, and their next regular meeting is next Tuesday.
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