07-19-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--July 19, 1999 2006 valuation change be made at this time for Leonard and Watson Townships. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. Mr. Klein recommended that no action be taken in Raymond, Stanley and Wheatland Townships. MOTION, passed Mr. Wieland moved and Mr. Koenig seconded that the County Board of Equalization be adjourned for 1999. Motion carried unanimously. 16. JAIL PROJECT, Sales tax Jeannette Stanton, Fargo, appeared before the Board to discuss placing a measure on the June, 2000 primary election ballot to end collection of the sales tax for construction of a new jail when $18,000,000 has been collected. She favors building a new jail but does not believe county taxpayers were adequately informed that the county would be collecting $6-8 million more than what was needed for the actual construction. She said county electors could initiate a measure to end the sales tax after collections reach $18,000,000, and it would not be difficult to obtain signatures on a petition to lower taxes, but it is her opinion that commissioners should put the measure on next year's election ballot themselves. Mrs. Schneider said the county was looking at a cost of $18 million to construct the jail and another $6 million to pay additional operating costs due to the design of the new facility. Mr. Meyer believes the voters were well informed about the revenue to be collected by the sales tax because informational meetings were held throughout the county prior to the vote being taken. He does not believe there was any question that some of this money would be used for transitional and operational costs of the new jail. County Auditor, Michael Montplaisir, said all of the advertising, the brochure and the ballot question itself informed the electors that the sales tax would be used exclusively for the general obligation debt, construction, maintenance and operation of a county jail in Cass County. Mrs. Quick also believes the ballot question was very clear. Mr. Wieland said it is not necessary to put a measure on the ballot because this Board intends to end the sales tax collections at the appropriate time and demonstrate that the jail sales tax does have a sunset. He believes the people who supported the ballot question understand that. 17. PROJECT TOMORROW FUNDING, Expenditure from county contingency Mrs. Quick asked Commissioners to consider funding a community-wide planning study called 'Project Tomorrow.' The municipalities of Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Dilworth and Clay County have all contributed to this project, however, their request to Cass County arrived too late for inclusion in this year's budget. Cass County has been involved in the process through representation by Kathy Hogan, Charlotte Sandvik and Mrs. Quick; and there have been about 100 other community participants in the program. If the Cass County Commission approves a contribution today, Mrs. Quick said no funds will be requested in the 2000 county budget. MOTION, passed Mr. Meyer moved and Mr. Wieland seconded to approve a one-time payment of $2,500 to 'Project Tomorrow' from the Cass County contingency fund. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.