(Spirit Lake)– Dickinson county department heads are being told to hold the line on spending.
County Auditor Nancy Reiman told the board of supervisors Tuesday expenses are coming in much closer to budgeted levels than they have in the past for this point in the fiscal year. That, combined with delining revenue due in part to lower valuations, is raising a flag among Dickinson county supervisors. They’re concerned it will reduce the carryover projected for the end of the fiscal year.
With one member absent, the supervisors voted three-to-one Tuesday to allocate money for only the third quarter instead of the entire second half of the fiscal year.
The motion was made by Mardi Allen who said she’s very concerned about the pattern of declining revenues and increasing expenses.
Wayne Northey disagreed and voted against Allen’s motion, saying allocating only for the third quarter amounts to the supervisors micromanaging department heads. A previous motion by Northey to allocate funds for the entire second half of the fiscal year failed for lack of a second.
Supervisor Chairman David Gottsche was absent.
Reiman told the supervisors the reduced valuation alone will result in about 30-thousand dollars less in revenue to the county.
