Walsh County commissioners approve $100,000 for Carnegie Regional Library after lengthy public hearing

Walsh County commissioners on Sept. 9 voted unanimously to include $100,000 for the Carnegie Regional Library in the county's preliminary 2026 budget after a public hearing that drew patrons, library staff and board members.

Public speakers stressed the library's historical role, services and outreach; library leaders and the county discussed the library's finances, reserves and facility needs before the vote.

The Carnegie Regional Library, located in Grafton and described during the hearing as a regional resource, drew repeated appeals from patrons who said cuts would harm children's programming and community access. "I have been a loyal patron to the Carnegie Regional Library," said Claudia Thompson, who identified herself as a rural Grafton resident and longtime library user. "We are the first free library in North Dakota," Thompson added, noting the library building's Carnegie history.

Several speakers urged the commissioners not to reduce county support. Laura Glamour, who described herself as a parent, said she appreciated commissioners' scrutiny but asked the library board to be more transparent: "Why can't the library board and leadership answer basic questions about the budget and operations?" she asked, listing questions about staff evaluation, volunteer engagement and program rules.

Library board president and treasurer Katrina Hudney (as identified on the record) told commissioners the board had consolidated cash into a single account and earmarked portions of that balance for specific uses. Hudney said the $232,000 figure included multiple earmarked reserves and the board had temporarily reduced the amount it would request from the county to draw down reserves for one year because of the political and fiscal climate. "I made the decision as the treasurer to reduce funding or reduce the ask of funding to take some of that operational reserve that we do have and use it for 1 year just to kinda get our balance a little down and then go back to normal operations because of the climate," Hudney said.

Kim Drew, who said her firm provides the library's accounting and payroll support, told the commissioners that the $232,000 balance cited by the board reflected a peak, one-day cash balance in August, when most tax revenue is received: "That was a balance one day in August, and we are at our most flush part of the year," she said, adding the library typically ends a year with $120,000 to $170,000 in cash.

Commissioners pressed the library about operating costs and reserves. Hudney said the library's annual operating budget was about $175,000 and that the $232,000 was the checking balance at the time the packet was prepared; the board said items listed as "reserves" were sub-allocations of that cash, not additional separate accounts. The board and its CPA also discussed plans for a financial policy to explain capital reserves, an emergency fund and operating allocations.

Commissioners and public speakers also weighed the in-kind support the City of Grafton provides. Commissioner Paul (county commissioner; first-name record only) and others noted that Grafton donates the building, utilities and some maintenance; Paul estimated Grafton's in-kind contribution at roughly $135,000 but said the city's direct mill levy contribution for the library was $43,835 for the coming budget. Paul noted the county and city operate under a joint powers agreement that, he said, commits Walsh County to a 2.5-mill contribution and Grafton to 4 mills (see authorities).

Commissioners also discussed statutory limits on future increases. Commissioner Trina (first-name record only) and others raised a recently enacted state limit that caps increases at 3% on certain levies; Hudney said she had not known about the 3% cap when the board reduced its county request and that knowledge of the cap would have changed the board's decision.

After discussion, a motion to fund the Carnegie Regional Library at $100,000 in the preliminary county budget was made and seconded. The board took a roll-call vote: Commissioner Paul, yes; Commissioner Ernie, yes; Commissioner Amy, yes; Commissioner Danny, yes; the Presiding Commissioner (referred to in the record as "Myself"), yes. The motion carried.

Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners explicitly separated their discussion (equity between city and county contributions, library operations and hours, and the library's cash reserves) from the formal action (the $100,000 preliminary appropriation). Several commissioners said the preliminary budget amount can only be lowered later but not increased past the preliminary figure if the commissioners finalize it as currently drafted; county staff advised on those procedural limits during the meeting.

The board scheduled the county's final budget hearing for Oct. 7, 2025. The Oct. 7 hearing remains the forum for final adjustments to the county budget.

Ending: The library hearing drew broad public turnout and detailed fiscal questions from the commissioners. Library leaders said they will continue providing financial statements and policy documentation, and commissioners asked library staff and board members to follow up with requested clarifications before the final budget hearing on Oct. 7.