October 9, 2019

Commissioners approve $181 million county budget

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

The McKenzie County commissioners shaved just under $3 million from their preliminary budget as they approved a final budget of $181,416,564 for the county for 2020 during their Oct. 1 board meeting. The biggest reduction between the preliminary and final budget, according to Erica Johnsrud, McKenzie County auditor/treasurer, was the commissioners’ decision to reduce a proposed 31 percent salary increase for county employees.
“On Sept. 16, the commissioners approved an 8.3 percent salary increase for all county employees,” states Johnsrud. “In January, all county employees will go up one step on their pay scale. It will mean that most employees will see between a 1½ and 2 percent salary increase at that time.”
According to Johnsrud, the new budget is also adding 16 new full-time positions to the county’s payroll. Currently, McKenzie County has 241 employees, including part-time positions. However, Johnsrud says that all of those positions are currently filled.
A significant portion of the new budget, according to Johnsrud, will go toward county road improvements, as well as street projects in Watford City, Arnegard and Alexander.

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