Unfortunately if you were signed up to receive updates before, you will need to visit the new site and subscribe again.
NDACo will be posting information about legislation that affects counties. At the bottom of the blog, there's a space for you to enter your email so you can get notified when we publish new content.
Members of both the North Dakota Association of Counties Association and the North Dakota County Commissioners Association approved resolutions at the recent NDACo Annual Conference. These resolutions drive policy direction to NDACo's legislative team for the upcoming Legislative Session.
2022 RESOLUTIONS BY
THE NORTH DAKOTA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND THE NORTH DAKOTA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION
2022-01. Shelter
Care Support. Research
strongly supports treating youth who are considered “Children in Need of
Services” (i.e., runaways or ungovernable behavior) but have not otherwise
committed a crime with a different approach than the traditional arrest and
detention. Such youths should be provided a safe shelter but not co-housed with
youth who have committed potentially serious crimes. However, such separation causes additional
expenses to counties and other local governments. This Association supports
additional State funding to ensure shelter care is fully funded on a
reimbursable basis for counties from the time such youth is placed in the
shelter care facility. New Resolution
2022-02. Support
for and Study of Clerk of Courts Structure.
The North Dakota Association of Counties recognizes the importance of the Clerk
of Court offices throughout the State of North Dakota as a point of public
access to the Court system. This system has been in place since approved by the
1999 North Dakota Legislature. NDACo remains committed to keeping the existing
contract Clerk of Courts offices in the employ of the counties under current law,
as per Chapter 27-05.2 of the North Dakota Century Code. NDACo believes that
all existing Clerk of Court offices are a valuable resource to the general
public in the counties in which they serve. The transition of contract county
offices to State offices, without further study, could potentially limit public
access to the court system and create a substantial financial impact to the
State and county. The Association supports the current clerk structure and
request that the Legislature authorize an interim study of the Clerks of Court
to receive full input and effect that would be occasioned by changes made to existing
law. New Resolution
2022-03.
Public Health Funding. A robust public health system is imperative to all North Dakota
citizens. The recent pandemic highlights the personal sacrifices those in the
public health sector are willing to undertake to keep citizen’s safe. However,
public health is increasingly called on to perform many services which stretch
resources thin. Additionally, based on the historical nature of how health
units were created and the potential disparity in political subdivision
funding, health services are subjected to funding uncertainties. This
Association supports identifying public health core services and requests the
legislature study the delivery of public health services to ensure the overall
operation and funding mechanisms are in place to carry out this important
mission. New Resolution
2022-04. Support
for North Dakota North Dakota’s Coal Industry. Coal-based power plants generate more than 60
percent of the electricity consumed in the state, and export additional power
throughout the upper Midwest. This baseload capacity is vitally important to
maintaining the reliability of the electric grid and is crucially important for
the State’s residences and industries. The association supports legal,
regulatory and financial solutions that will for all energy resources maintain
baseload generation assets and integrity of the electrical grid. New
Resolution
2022-05. Law
Enforcement training fund. Law
Enforcement is an essential function of Government. Well trained and educated officers
are critically important for the safety and well-being of all North Dakota
citizens. Political subdivisions bear the expenses for students to attend the
Law Enforcement Training Academy which upon successful completion of their
training allows them to perform law enforcement functions in their communities.
However, many officers after short periods of time move onto larger law
enforcement agencies which places an undue burden on the smaller jurisdictions to
continuously pay for training. This association supports the creation of a
State funded law enforcement training academy fund to relieve counties from
this fiscal burden. New Resolution
2022‐06. Human
Service Zone Team Member Equity Compensation. North Dakota Counties recognize that human
service zone team members are county employees yet are subject to state
appropriations for operational costs including salary and host-county offered
benefits. In addition, North Dakota Counties recognize the Department of Health
& Human Services and the Legislature’s outstanding commitment to social
services redesign and the development of human service zones. Understandably,
such significant changes require further adjustments over time as additional
information becomes available. For efficient and effective administration,
total compensation equity across the entire human service delivery system must
be improved. This association supports legislative efforts and the accompanying
funding to provide equity across all human service zones. New Resolution
2022-07. NDSU
Extension Service Support. NDSU Extension is recognized as providing
valuable services for the citizens throughout North Dakota. The Extension funding model represents a
valuable partnership between the State and Counties with the State supporting
agent’s salaries while the county supports staffing and other direct and
indirect costs. However, over the years the State’s salary contribution for
agents has not kept pace with other costs creating inequalities. This
Association supports increased State contributions for Extension Agents. Update
of Resolution 2018-10
2022-08.
Centrally Assessed Property Valuation. Counties are required to issue estimated tax
notices by August 31st which include preliminary budget data for all political
subdivisions. Certain properties are not assessed at the local level and
require the State Tax department to work with those property owners to provide
the actual value to the county. Counties, and all other taxing entities, depend
on the accuracy of centrally assessed properties when computing their budgets.
Therefore, it is paramount this information is complete and reported to
counties by July 1st. This Association urges the strengthening of
the valuation process for centrally assessed properties so that accurate values
are established and delivered to counties in a user-friendly format utilizing
taxing district information prior to preliminary budgets being set in order to
achieve the greatest level of taxpayer fairness. Update of Resolution 2018-09
2022-09.
Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN).
As the SIRN project continues its buildout across the state of North Dakota
local jurisdictions are realizing an increased cost for the equipment required.
Currently, the state provides a $1500 cost reimbursement for radios. The cost
of radios in greater than first estimated in addition law enforcement are
required to utilize radios with encryption these factors have increased the
financial commitment for local government. Currently less than 25% of the
radios have been purchased by local government. This Association recognizes the
need for all emergency responding agencies to utilize the equipment for the
vitality of this project. Therefore, this Association encourages additional State
support for radio units that have previously been purchased for the program as
well as for future radio purchases. Additionally, past experiences with
upgraded radio projects have created gaps in coverage specifically in rural
areas. This Association requests at least a 90% coverage guarantee in all
counties before such a system can be fully implemented. Update of Resolution
2020-10
2022-10.
Behavioral Health. Lack of
behavioral health and chemical dependency treatment programs or access to
transportation to existing programs places a significant burden on county
services. Behavioral Health services need to be available in all areas of this
State including rural areas outside of the population centers. County jails
should not be de facto behavioral health service providers. This Association
supports increased State funding for fair and competitive compensation for
State behavioral health professionals, for the delivery of behavioral health services
for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Corrections, and to
preapproved private behavioral health providers to ensure those seeking help or
those on probation/parole have access to substance abuse and mental health
services. Update of Resolution 2019-05
2022-11. Support
for NDSU Extension Parenting Classes.
District Courts have recognized the value of ordering certain individuals to
receive parenting classes which NDSU extension is able to provide. However, counties
are in many instances responsible for offsetting much of this cost. This
Association supports additional State funds to support Court ordered NDSU
Extension parenting classes.71 New Resolution
2022-12. Gross
Production Tax Road Mill Requirement.
North Dakota’s oil and gas resources are not subjected to property tax and are
instead subjected to tax at the State Level. Historically, those taxes are
shared with the local political subdivisions through the Gross Production Tax
formula under NDCC 57-51-15. However, counties are required to levy 10 road
mills in order to receive their share of the revenue regardless of whether such
funds are needed. This Association supports the elimination or reduction of the
GPT road mill levy requirement. New Resolution
Committee includes participation from:
Jeff Frith, Ramsey County Commissioner
Sharon Lipsh, Former Walsh County Highway Supt.
