Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Residents accuse Stark County commissioners of unlawful overtaxing; commission defends gradual levy reductions
Summary
Residents at a Stark County commission meeting challenged officials over a 2023 audit finding that the county held surplus funds above the state'mandated 75% threshold, alleging illegal tax collection and asking for remedies; the commission said it has reduced the levy over several years and favors a long-term plan to smooth boom-bust revenue swings.
Residents pressed Stark County commissioners on the findings of a recent audit during a public comment period, accusing elected officials of collecting more in property taxes than state law allows and urging remedies ranging from published mill-reduction plans to a forensic audit.
"You all willingly, knowingly, repeatedly, and illegally took money from the people you're supposed to be serving," said Chris Geetson, a public commenter, who also asked whether residents should petition the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for a forensic audit and whether individual commissioners could be held civilly liable.
Why it matters: The county's 2023 audit found surplus funds above the threshold set in state law (often discussed under the North Dakota Century Code). Several residents said the county has been "overtaxed" for years and demanded transparency on how the commission plans to reduce the mill levy to comply with statute.
Multiple speakers asked for a public, published mill-reduction plan. "If you do…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
