(Spirit Lake)– Controversy over a proposal to merge the Recorder and Auditor’s Offices spilled over into a crowded meeting of the Dickinson county board of supervisors this (Tuesday) morning. It stems from a petition that would put the proposal on the ballot with this November’s General Election.
Among those addressing the supervisors was Pat Bill, Auditor/Recorder for Woodbury county, where voters approved the merger in 1995. He estimates the county has saved roughly a million dollars since then…(click here for comment from Gill.)
Alisa Berg, one of many representatives with the State Association of County Recorders on hand for the meeting, said residents need to decide if any compromise in the level of service would be worth what they would save on their individual tax bills…(click here for comment from Berg.)
Meanwhile, Vance Hjelm of the Dickinson County Farm Bureau questioned whether it was appropriate to be having the discussion right now, as it isn’t even known yet if residents will be able to vote on it…(click here for comment from Hjelm.)
Mardi Allen, who says she’s supporting the petition to put the measure on the ballot as a taxpayer and not as a county supervisor, is helping to circulate it, along with several members of the Dickinson County Taxpayer’s Association.
Allen told the crowd that as of now, they have just about half of the 1,508 signatures required to put the issue on the ballot. The deadline to get the signatures is August 24th.
