3. Vector Control budget increase

RNMENT Auditor Michael Montplaisir, CPA 701-241-5601 Treasurer Charlotte Sandvik 701-241-5611 Director of Equalization Frank Klein 701-241.5616 Box 2806 211 Ninth Street South Fargo, North Dakota 58103 May 15, 2003 Board of County Commissioners Cass County Government 211 9th St. S. Fargo ND 58103 Re: Budget Request by Vector District Dear Commissioners: I would like to provide some background and observations on the budget request for Vector Control since I will not be at the meeting on Monday. The Vector mill levy is one of those appointed boards whose mill levy falls below the line, that is, its mill levy is not included in the 75 mill levy limit provided the county in the Home Rule Charter (HRC). When the county drafted the HRC, the mill levies for boards that were appointed by the County Commission were kept separate from the combined mill levy limitation because of the shared responsibility in governing these taxing districts. There was always a question as to who had the ultimate authority in an appointed board's budget and mill levy. To solve this problem, we included a provision that kept these boards outside the county's mill levy limitation and, instead, let them follow the applicable state statues for that taxing district. The Vector Control District has a one (1) mill levy limitation under the state statutes. The Vector District is currently levying .75 mills which, with some matching state revenues, will raise an estimated $252,000 for 2003. At the maximum mill levy of one mill, the District could raise about $300,000 for the 2004 budget. The proposed budget adjustment would bring the 2003 budget to a little over $400,000 and could not be supported short term, or long term, by the levy authorized by state statutes. County Engineer Keith Berndt, the department head responsible for Vector Control, has suggested that Emergency Funds be used to cover the shortfall for 2003. The Emergency Levy is a levy that is authorized by the state statutes and is included in the county levy limit of 75 mills. We could argue that this is an emergency; the very nature of vector control is to provide some action in an emergency, as pointed out in NDCC 23-24-08, where the statute includes powers and duties of the Vector Control Board as follows: "Declare, by resolution, that a potential or emergency health hazard exists and take all necessary and proper steps and measures for the eradication of public health vectors causing a potential or emergency health hazard within the district." FAX 701.241.5728