Ward County commissioners on July 22, 2025 approved a series of line-item reductions and targeted allocations as they worked to trim roughly $1.6 million from the preliminary 2026 budget to stay within 3% caps. The commission scheduled a follow-up budget session for July 30.

The action affects county-funded programs from historical societies to economic development corporations and technology and facilities budgets. Commissioners approved funding allocations and multiple reductions while rejecting some proposed savings that would have cut elected-official benefits.

The commission approved allocations including $80,500 distributed among the Lake County Historical Society, Makoti Threshers Society, Ward County Historical Society and Ryder Historical Society. It reduced 2026 funding requested by several Economic Development Corporations from $276,405 to the 2025 allocated total of $155,500. The commission approved a $300,000 request by the North Dakota State Fair and allocated $69,600 to Youthworks for 2026. Commissioners also capped the First District Health Unit funding at a 3% increase from 2025 and allocated $884,208 for 2026.

On reductions, commissioners approved cutting $66,500 from facility building repairs after Facilities Director Brian Vangsness said the purchase of an additional dump trailer could be delayed to next year and that $50,000 could potentially be cut from facility repairs and maintenance. The commission moved a $29,000 reduction in the IT budget after IT Director Jason Blowers offered specific line-item reductions including Office 365 and network equipment; commissioners reduced emergency management travel to $5,650 following a $2,000 voluntary cut offered by EM Director Kelly Haugan. Commissioners reduced park capital improvements from $27,000 to $15,000, lowered general miscellaneous office supplies from $10,000 to $5,000, cut $50,000 from the contingency miscellaneous line, and approved a $38,000 reduction in weed control after Weed Control Officer Darrill Fick offered alternatives and potential outside funding for equipment.

The commission addressed juvenile detention funding and compliance concerns related to a PREA audit. Sheriff Robert Roed reported the county is appealing a PREA recommendation and said the juvenile detention center meets federal requirements; commissioners voted down a motion to add $285,000 to juvenile detention to fund three additional officers. The transcript notes the appeal process could take “a couple months.”

Several proposed savings failed on roll call votes. A motion to remove health insurance coverage for the commissioners, which the county estimated would reduce the budget by $120,810, failed 4–1 (Comm. Schuler in favor; Comms. Rostad, Merritt, Olson and Chair Fjeldahl opposed). A separate motion to freeze commissioner salaries at $23,215 also failed 3–2.

The meeting included a discussion about continuing to operate polling locations in Ryder and Sawyer versus converting them to vote-by-mail locations; Auditor/Treasurer Marisa Haman was directed to investigate whether closing the locations would produce savings. A continued budget discussion was scheduled for July 30, 2025. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:39 PM.

Discussion vs. decisions: commissioners debated potential staffing additions in juvenile detention (discussion) and chose not to add $285,000 (formal vote). Staff were directed to investigate potential savings from changing polling locations (direction). Multiple line-item reductions and allocations were formal actions recorded by roll call (decisions).