Williston adopts $198.2 million 2025 budget, funds $11.9 million in infrastructure

The Williston Board of City Commissioners on Sept. 24 adopted the city’s 2025 annual budget, approving Resolution 24‑004 by a 5‑0 vote.

City Administrator Shawn Wenko told the commission the budget process begins nearly a year in advance and said the final package had been reduced "by nearly $20 million" from the preliminary draft submitted in August to better align with strategic priorities. The adopted budget projects $192,076,291 in revenues and $198,201,026 in expenses, producing a $6,124,735 deficit, officials said.

Finance Director Hercules Cummings described the revenue assumptions used to build the forecast and said the projections are based on 2024 trends. "We took the current (2024) and created a forecast for 2025," Cummings said, adding that lower interest rates can lift tax revenues and that the administration is optimistic for 2025. He also told commissioners the city’s credit rating depends on a structurally balanced General Fund and that the commission retains discretion to make cuts if conditions deteriorate.

City Engineer David Juma framed the capital program in grant and matching terms, saying the city will have "$11 million in assets and $48 million dollars in infrastructure, basically a 4 to 1 return on every dollar spent" through federal and state funding leveraged against local investment.

Key revenue and policy changes built into the budget include a projected $11 million to the city’s Sales Tax fund (with $8.25 million — 75% — slated for engineering and infrastructure and $2.75 million — 25% — for job creation and community enhancement), $15 million projected to the Public Safety Sales Tax fund, $28 million from gross production taxes (a projected 15% reduction from 2024), a 5% property tax increase, a 3% annual increase in water and sewer rates, a new 1% rental tax on vehicles at XWA and the elimination of September as a summer month for sewer/water rate structure. The budget shows $11,920,912 in one‑time infrastructure projects funded through Sales Tax Infrastructure.

During the public hearing and question period, resident Mason White pressed the commission on how the $11 million sales‑tax projection was calculated; Cummings reiterated the forecast methodology and staff’s reliance on current revenue trends. Commissioner Brad Bekkedahl noted historical receipts, saying, "In 2023 we took in $17 million, and we are looking at possibly $16 million based on where we are today in our revenue resources." Resident Loni Steppler asked whether salary standardization and comparisons to other communities had been performed; Wenko said the city used a salary study through Graves Consulting and the North Dakota League of Cities to help set department head pay.

Commissioners stressed reserves and fiscal discipline: Cummings reminded the board that the city maintains a policy to hold at least 15% of General Fund expenses in reserve and that capital investments are often reimbursed in part by grants. The commission voted to adopt Resolution 24‑004 as presented; the motion passed unanimously.

The budget adoption directs staff to implement the 2025 spending plan and report back through regular finance updates; no additional amendments were adopted at the Sept. 24 meeting.