(Spirit Lake)—The Dickinson county board of supervisors Tuesday adopted the county’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The action followed a hearing that drew no comment from the general public.
The budget reflects levies that are identical to the current fiscal year: $3.19 for urban areas and $5.03 for rural per $1,000 of valuation. Supervisors say keeping the levy the same was one of their goals going into the budgeting process.
Supervisors say the fiscal year 2014 budget reflects several positive factors, including a net increase of $89.3 million in taxable valuations; 26 new residential dwellings in the unincorporated areas and 68 new residential dwellings in incorporated cities for a combined net increase in valuation of some $20.4 million.
Likewise, supervisors say the budget also has some red flags in it. Among them is the fact the General Fund is budgeted to spend $508,000 more than revenues collected. It also reflects uncertainty over impacts of the healthcare reform act and reorganization of the mental healthcare delivery system.
