The Morton County Commission will try to reduce another $200,000 from its 2006 budget next week.

Auditor Paul Trauger said commissioners have completed department budget hearings and now want to reduce requests to a more manageable amount.

"Requests started at $700,000 over budget and commissioners started trimming them down,"Trauger said. "They've managed to cut about $500,000, but would like to find another $150,000 to $200,000."

It appears the commission will provide a 3 percent across-the-board salary increase for employees, according to to Trauger. Morton employs about 180 full-time and part-time workers. Of its projected $5 million general fund budget, about $3 million goes to salaries. Total county salaries are more than $6 million, with about half that amount coming from dedicated mills for special funds. The overall county budget will come in at about $20 million.

"Right now we're looking at a 2.5 mill reduction. Last year the county levied 173 mills and we want to reduce that to 170.5 mills. A Morton County mill is worth about $58,000," Trauger said. "County-wide property values went up about 6 percent, so we're trying to cut back mills to the equivalent of the valuation increase so county residents won't see an increase in the county portion of their property tax bill."

Trauger said the commission has the ability to increase the county levy by up to 38.5 mills before meeting their maximum mill levy.

Among some of the cuts the commission has made are nearly $200,000 for a soil survey analysis, $33,600 in out-of-state travel, and another $80,000 from the various department requests.

"They're still looking at possibly cutting mobile communications. Commissioners are considering spending up to $35,000 for cell phones for the county, but haven't made up their minds yet," Trauger said.

Outside of general road projects, the county commission isn't looking at any major capital project outlays.

"They're still considering the communications center and trying to do something there. But there is nothing definite, and if a project is considered it will probably have to be bonded," Trauger said.

Once the county finalizes its budget, the auditor's office will begin work on combining the budget requests of the various taxing jurisdictions - city, county, school district, park district and water resource district - into the final property tax bill for this year.

Trauger said the city has reduced its levy by 4 mills and the county will also see a mill reduction. The park district is asking a modest 2.5 mill increase, but the school district, which accounts for nearly half the property taxes collected, is up 26.5 mills - a school district mill is worth about $43,500.

"Of course, most of the school district increase has to do with the new junior high school, which people voted for," Trauger says. "I hope that they remember that when they see their tax statement. I'm sure the people that didn't vote for the junior high school are going to notice it."

The school district is levying the maximum number of mills it can, according to Trauger. The school district is asking almost $11 million in tax revenues, with total expenditures of about $22 million.

The district is in fact coming up $165,000 short of what it can levy, though Trauger said it can dip into its reserve to cover the shortfall.

The county commission is meeting on its budget beginning at 1:30 on Monday and hopes to finalize the budget during its regular meeting on Tuesday, which begins at 10 a.m.

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