Grand Forks County budget vote ties; commissioners plan special meeting to finalize

A roll-call vote on the Grand Forks County 2026 budget ended in a 2-2 tie on Sept. 23, leaving commissioners unable to finalize the levy and prompting them to plan a special meeting before the state filing deadline. The tie occurred after Commissioners Bierke and Austin voted "no" and Commissioner Ross and the presiding chair voted "yes," with Commissioner Peach absent.

The tie left open the county’s net levy and mill rate and forced discussion of a special meeting to meet upcoming filing deadlines. County staff said an October deadline exists; commissioners discussed meeting on Oct. 7 or holding a special session to file by the Oct. 10 deadline referenced in the discussion.

Why it matters: The vote determines the county’s levy and spending plan for 2026, including personnel changes and health-insurance budgeting that staff said require voter or formal approval before filing with the state. A timely vote is required to meet state filing windows.

County staff presented the budget package in detail during the hearing. Staff reported the taxable value figure as "410,141 thousand 877" and a total mills figure for the 2026 budget of 89.22; a net levy amount was read as 35,283,288. The presentation noted an overall decrease of 2.33 mills from 2025 and that the general fund included no mill increase but would add one Youth Assessment Center employee and one correctional-center administrative position. Staff also described a 1.23% employer public-service retirement increase, a step program, and a 2.4% cost-of-living adjustment. Health insurance premiums were presented as rising 24.4%, an increase already built into the draft budget. The county’s reserve (interim) fund was reported at 25% and staff said the YAC administrator position had been reclassified.

Commission discussion focused on timing and the need for all commissioners to participate before finalizing the levy. Commissioners discussed whether to hold the regular Oct. 7 meeting or call a special meeting; staff advised that a special meeting can be noticed promptly and that they would contact the absent commissioner, identified as Peach, to find a suitable date. Commissioners expressed willingness to wait until the Oct. 7 meeting if all members could attend but noted the filing deadline pressure.

Action and next steps: Because the roll call produced a tie, commissioners did not adopt the 2026 budget at this meeting. They agreed to schedule either a special meeting or use the October 7 meeting to finalize the budget so the county can meet the state's filing deadline. No final levy was filed at this session.

Budget context and constraints: Commissioners and staff discussed exploring alternatives to absorb the health-insurance increase, including issuing a request for proposals to open the market to other insurers and possibly joining a larger pool. Staff said they will consult with the employee association and explore options next year to seek lower premium increases. Commissioners also discussed timing for notices and the requirement to give adequate public notice of any special meeting.

The commission did not take final action on the levy at this session; commissioners asked staff to coordinate availability for a follow-up meeting and to provide any additional information ahead of that vote.