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Commissioners warned of potential federal mineral revenue delay; staff urged to reassess capital plans
Summary
County officials told the board that federal mineral royalty payments may be delayed until September 2026 and that conservative assumptions about federal minerals revenue should guide 2026 capital spending. Commissioners were asked to review project lists and consider scaling back planned capital expenditures.
County finance staff briefed the Dunn County Board of Commissioners that federal mineral royalty payments are projected by the agency to be delayed until September 2026, creating a potential shortfall compared with prior expectations. The board was advised to be conservative in adopting 2026 capital spending plans until revenue timing is confirmed.
The auditor told commissioners that a Western Dakota Energy Association briefing and conversations with state representatives suggested lower projected oil prices next year and that the county should not assume the same level of federal mineral receipts as in prior years. Staff recommended the board prioritize near‑bid projects, cut or defer inactive projects, and consider percentage COLA approaches rather than flat, across‑the‑board bonuses when finalizing the 2026 budget.
Commissioners asked the road department and other program managers to produce a list of projects that are already at the bid stage or close to bid so the county can estimate expenditures for 2025–26 and avoid bidding projects that cannot be funded. Finance staff offered to circulate a list of major capital items and suggested each department look for 5–10% savings where feasible before the final budget hearing.
No formal action was taken to change line items at the meeting; commissioners were warned that projected federal mineral receipts are uncertain and that the county may need to revise its capital program before finalizing the 2026 budget.
