When times are tough, government tends to tighten its budget belt. When times are good … well, the Burleigh County Commission intends to tighten its belt that much more.

The Burleigh County Commission is going to ask county department heads to submit 95 percent budgets this year as suggested by commissioner Mark Armstrong at Tuesday's meeting.

The county has been good on holding the line on property taxes, even managing to lower them slightly last year, Armstrong noted. But the county also received a $700,00 windfall as a county-funded child support department moved under state auspices.

"That was about 9 percent of our overall budget," Armstrong said. "As we move into the next budget cycle and look down the road further, we have to be cognizant that we won't have that benefit."

Concerned that the local economy will eventually follow the national downward trend in the next few years, Armstrong threw out the idea to have the county departments submit budgets 5 percent less than last year.

Commissioner Doug Schonert said he didn't think it was a bad idea and thinks the county should be more conservative this year than last. But Schonert wanted salaries removed from the equation. The county is awaiting the results of a salary survey being conducted by Fox-Lawson, and Schonert expects recommendations will be for significant increases.

"I think what will come back out of that survey will shock us," Schonert said. "Our main expense is salaries, but I think we need to keep up with increases if we want to compete in the job market and retain good employees."

Schonert added he was willing to support Armstrong's suggestion, if salaries were held separate.

Salaries make up 75 percent to 80 percent of the budget, Armstrong said, and he feels the county's employees are its most important resource.

Commissioner Jim Peluso said he didn't disagree with the notion, but added that energy costs, equipment and materials are rising at never-before-seen rates and the county will have to be prepared for that.

"I don't think we're seeing the real effects just yet, but we're starting to,"Peluso said. "It's going to be a tough deal to hold the budget to 95 percent or even 100 percent."

Commission chairman Jerry Woodcox challenged the other taxing jurisdictions to hold the line on taxes or even try to pull back.

Schonert said the county should be moving forward with projects while times are good and tighten their belts when things are bad.

On the other hand, Armstrong feels now is the time to be putting on the brakes a little bit as far as the budget is concerned.

"It's better to trim the budget now rather than when things get serious. If we tighten when times are good, we'll be in better shape down the road. Let's look at those costs we can control," Armstrong said in making a motion that department heads submit a 95 percent budget. This did include taking salaries off line and asking the departments to be as creative as they can in reducing spending.

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