With the Legislature meeting in their backyard, it's hard for Morton and Burleigh counties not to take an interest, especially since much of the legislation passed into law will affect how North Dakota's counties do business.

It's too soon to be worried about any specific legislation, said Morton County Auditor Paul Trauger - after all, the session doesn't get under way officially until Tuesday. His hopes are that anything coming out of the session does not negatively impact property taxes. Property taxes, outside of state and federal funding, are Morton County's major source for paying the bills, as they are for all North Dakota counties.

"One thing we have to watch out for are actions that take away federal or state money; this causes property taxes to rise because we have to raise the money somehow," Trauger said.

Morton relies heavily on property taxes for its highway budget, according to Trauger. Morton budgets about $3.2 million for roads. About 44 percent of that budget, or $1.4 million, comes from the state's Highway Distribution Fund, and the balance comes from property taxes. The county's biggest budget item, social services, gets about 71 percent, or $1.7 million, of its total $2.4 million from property taxes.

Trauger has spent some time during past sessions testifying for and against various bills and expects to be back this year.

"It all depends on what bills are being considered and how much time a person has," he said.

State Aid Distribution, the Highway Distribution Fund and Human Services are the major areas Burleigh County Auditor Kevin Glatt will be keeping an eye on. A decrease in funding in any of those could increase property taxes.

Burleigh County is one of the few counties in the state that operates its highway department through state and federal funding, according to Glatt. Burleigh levies only one quarter of 1 mill for road purposes, which raises $39,000 of a $4.5 million dollar budget.

"Our roads budget relies almost exclusively on the highway gas-tax distribution," Glatt said.

Glatt would like to see increased state funding for human service programs. It also wouldn't hurt if the state put more money into elementary and secondary education, he said.

"If schools levy less taxes, it makes those of us who collect taxes look better," Glatt said.

Longtime Bismarck politician Marlan Haakenson, the former mayor who is entering his 13th year on the Burleigh County Commission, has his own thoughts on what he'd like to see come out of this session. Haakenson has been watching closely developments on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation's attempt to place a gambling casino in Grand Forks.

"As I'm reading it, the governor would rather not see the Legislature approve any pact allowing the casino in Grand Forks; he'd rather have it taken to a vote of the people," Haakenson said.

Haakenson said he believes it's a viable idea and would like to see something similar in Bismarck. He said gambling could be a boon to the community and could reduce property taxes.

Haakenson admits he doesn't pay as much attention to the Legislature as he once did.

"Sometimes I have the concern that folks just like to jump on the bandwagon as long as it's politically correct," he said. "They want to do things for education, roads, the arts, things that are politically correct. They don't like attacking things and getting to the meat of the matter.

"Groups like the (Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce) and Association of Counties have these legislative forums, but I don't go any more. They sometimes seem to be justifying their own existence rather than really addressing problems. I like to talk directly to the people and find out what they want."

Morton County Commissioner Bill Tokach is a retired rancher who spent four years as a member of the North Dakota House. He's taking a particular interest in taxation of rural housing, which was under study by an interim committee. Tokach said that assessors have different criteria for valuing of farm homes and that guidelines need to be set.

"How do you set value on a home that is out in the country and is two miles from a decent road? How do the owners find anyone interested in a place like that when they decide to sell it, and how can it be valued the same as a home that has good access?" Tokach asked.

"The state needs to seriously address this issue because we're going to see more and more of it as farmers and ranchers retire."

Tokach said that if Morton County can maintain its present property tax structure the way it is following the upcoming session, it will be a gain.

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