Elected officials representing the various local taxing governments got together Thursday and talked about what taxpayers can expect when tax statements are sent out in December.

It was the second gathering of officials from the city of Bismarck, Burleigh County, Bismarck Park District and Bismarck School District. All are in the midst of 2008 budget discussions, either having adopted preliminary budgets or are about to do so.

Burleigh County Auditor-treasurer Kevin Glatt contacted the various jurisdictions prior to the meeting to develop a scenario of what taxpayers might expect on their tax bill.

Based on a home that Glatt used to own, the property was valued at $99,000 in 1998 and since has risen to a value of $156,300 - having experienced a 9 percent valuation increase in 2007. (The average price of a Bismarck home is $138,600, according to the North Dakota Realtors Association). Its tax bill will be $2,913.70: Of that, $368.84 will go to the county for a zero percent increase from 2006; $271.84 goes to the park district, an 8.66 percent increase; $617.75 is for the city, a 1.44 percent increase; and $1,641.82 goes to the school district, a 2.41 percent increase.

The school district receives 56 percent of the total tax bill, the city 22 percent, county 13 percent and park district 9 percent.

Glatt said this was just one specific property he had been tracking, and properties will vary with several variables to be accounted for.

Burleigh County Commissioner Mark Armstrong said that the county will not increase the portion of the property taxes it collects.

One big reason the county can do so is the state taking over nearly $550,000 in administering child support, Burleigh County Commissioner Doug Schonert said. But while the reduction in expenses was helpful, it was balanced by the the county's growth, which in this case resulted in the need for six additional employees, five of those in the sheriff's department and one in the road department.

"It's been a tough battle to hold the line, but I think we're doing well," Schonert said. "But we're only 14 percent of the total tax bill, most of which is the schools."

Park board member John Sagsveen said the district's proposed budget has only a 4 percent increase in spending. The district's preliminary budget mill levy is 38.65 mills, down .12 mill.

Park board president Mark Zimmerman said, "It's important to note that we have just two sources of revenue: property taxes and the fees we collect."

About 60 percent of the park district revenues come from user fees, Sagsveen said.

While the city has yet to adopt its preliminary budget, the proposed plan calls for a drop of 6.67 mills. When combined with the increase of Bismarck property valuation, this will mean about $500,000 in increased property tax revenues for the city.

City Commissioner Sandi Tabor said the city will begin hiring staff for the new northside fire station and also expected to hire a new police officer.

The city is limiting new construction, and additional spending will come in the area of public safety, Commissioner Connie Sprynczynatyk said. She added that the city will consider a multi-year phase program to start fixing streets in the core of the community. Plans are to spend a total of $10.3 million of sales tax money at the rate of $2 million annually on street improvements.

City sales tax has seen an 8 percent to 10 percent increase over the past couple of years, finance director Sheila Hillman said.

Other suggestions for sales tax use will be a package for building the new fire station and to fund a portion of a proposed quiet rail zone. Voters will get a change to decide in June. Sales tax will also be used to buy down 25 mills of property tax, something the city has done for several years. Hillman said this will be in the area of $4.5 million.

School board member Paul Govig said it is the board's plan to reduce its number of mills by 15, which is equivalent to the $3 million of increased state aid it received this year.

With the decrease in mills, increase in valuation and state aid, the school district spending will increase by about 6 percent, Govig said.

"We feel this is warranted. Opening day, the number of students is up, and we expect them to continue to grow. There are a lot of demands on our facilities, and this represents a fair amount of money," Govig said. "We (school board members) own homes too, but we feel the citizens of Bismarck value an excellent education."

The biggest budget item for the schools are salaries, Govig said, making up about 70 percent of the budget. The district is also putting aside money for a career and technical center to be built on the Bismarck State College grounds at a cost of $10 million.

A discussion on salaries shows that the county is calling for a 5 percent increase, the city 4.9 percent, park district 4.5 percent and school district between 5 and 6 percent.

Plans are to distribute a public information piece detailing the 2008 budgets and how taxpayer money is being spent. Another meeting of the jurisdictions will be held the first week of October after final budgets have been adopted.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)