Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Eddy County Commission met Thursday, July 16 to continue reviewing budgets from county entities and organizations.
Todd Weber, Eddy County Road Superintendent, presented the largest of the department budgets, totaling $1,136,500. The budget accommodates the purchase of two new blades at an estimated cost of $330,000 each.
Eddy County Extension Agent Chandy Howard presented the budget for the NDSU Extension Eddy County Office, which totals $79,917. This is $5,000 less than was budgeted for 2020, due to recent personnel changes in the position of extension agent and the subsequent salary differences.
Tax Director Kristy O’Connor prepared a budget totaling $41,934, a mere $1,440 more than last year. Her cost of living salary increase were included in the budget as well as a decrease in travel funds.
Superintendent of Schools Kathy Anderson reported that due to the cancellation of the 2020 state spelling bee and geography bee, no funds have been spent from this budget. Travel funds will roll over into 2021 and will be available to accommodate individual and family travel for those students representing Eddy County. This budget totals $2,550.
Anderson also presented the budget for the Eddy County Treasurer’s office in the amount of $57,764. The treasure’s budget followed the trend of a slight increase due to cost of living increases and decreased travel to conventions.
Eddy County Recorder Patty Hilbert will be attending her meetings via Zoom, further contributing to savings in travel. The $92,748 budget had a slight increase of $1,130 over last year.
Cost of living increases for Sheriff Paul Lies and his staff account for more than $9,000 of the budget’s $18,000 gain. Costs for radio upgrades required by the North Dakota Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN 20/20) Initiative accounted for $15,000 of the budget’s needs.
The Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford submitted a $237,616 budget, which boasted a decrease of just over $40,000. Reductions in the budget from 2020 to 2021 include a decrease in capital purchases and retention. CASNR can request up to 10 mils from the county, per the 2018 vote on Measure #1. This year, they will receive five mills.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 8:30 a.m.
