Commission delays final Walsh County budget after lengthy mills and weed-control debate

Walsh County commissioners postponed final approval of the county's budget at their Oct. 7 meeting after extended debate over mill levies, weed-control reserves and whether a voter-approved additional 10 mills can be included this year.

Why it matters: the county's final levy and budget must be published by statutory deadlines. Commissioners said they want a clear legal opinion on whether a 10-mill measure approved by voters Nov. 5, 2024, can be applied to this budget cycle.

Christina (staff member) presented revised levy worksheets and told the board the countywide levy total in the updated worksheet was about 122.45 mills (including a state levy). The discussion then focused on several special funds, with prolonged attention on the weed-control budget and how projected reimbursements and cash reserves were treated in staff worksheets.

Commissioners and staff noted differences between prior-year budget book figures and the working worksheet. Staff explained that some grant reimbursements (federal/state reimbursements and landowner-assistance reimbursements) had not yet been fully included in the worksheet Christina presented; when those revenues were accounted for, staff said the weed-control mill could be adjusted. Commissioners asked staff to match historical reimbursement levels to provide a stable estimate and to re-run worksheets before final adoption.

On the question of the additional 10 mills, staff confirmed that county measure number 1 on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot — "shall the Walsh County commissioners be authorized to levy up to an additional 10 mills for capital projects" — did pass, but Christina said the preliminary budget had not included those 10 mills. The county's attorney will research whether the voter-approved 10 mills may be added to the current final budget without further procedural steps. Commissioners agreed to postpone final adoption and schedule a special meeting for Thursday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m. to finalize the budget after the attorney’s review.

Weed control: staff and commissioners reviewed the existing contract payments to J and J (weed-control contractor) and noted the county has used significant reserves this year; staff proposed using a higher projected reimbursement figure to avoid an upward mill spike. No final change to the weed-control levy was adopted Oct. 7; staff will update the worksheet to reflect typical reimbursement history and present a corrected levy at the special meeting.

Next steps: the board set a special meeting for Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. to consider the final budget after legal review of the 10-mill voter measure and after staff updates to the levy worksheets. The county must publish the final budget by the statutory deadline once the commission adopts final numbers.

Ending: commissioners did not adopt a final budget on Oct. 7; they directed staff to update spreadsheets with historical reimbursements and asked the state's attorney to advise on the legal status of the voter-approved 10 mills before the special meeting.