Morton County commissioners spent Wednesday listening to department heads defend their proposed 2007 budgets.

Commissioners are hoping that the county will be able to keep its tax bill at the same 179.81 mills that were levied last year. This could happen, as departments were keeping budgets within a 3 percent increase of this year's budget, and the valuation of property countywide has increased about 5 percent.

While most departments are requesting a 5 percent salary increase, commissioners appear set on offering 3 percent, plus putting $100 a month toward health insurance. The intention, commissioners have said, is eventually to increase payments for health insurance to the point where they equal an individual health plan, about $300 a month.

Currently, county employees don't get health insurance. The county does offer a plan, but, in lieu of paying toward the plan, the county gives employees cash to do with as they choose. About 78 county employees participate in the plan provided by Morton. Under the new proposal for health insurance, employees would not have the option of taking the cash; it would be either participate or forfeit the offer. The county would pay for an individual plan, or that amount toward a family plan.

Mary Stewart made her last budget presentation, as she is not running for county recorder and will officially step down Dec. 31. The department brings in about $145,000 in revenue annually - mostly through charges for marriage licenses, death certificates and passports.

Tax Director Leon Samuel, who is running for the recorder position, requested 5 percent raises for his two employees, plus $6,000 for himself. "I'm just asking to be treated like the other department heads, and this would bring me in line with their salaries," Samuel said.

The Social Service budget is providing some concern for the commission. Director Ken Gerhardt said that his overall budget increase is only 1.7 percent, and most of the line items are mandated by state and federal governments. But the county has been carrying a significant debt in Social Welfare and County Poor line items. The deficit has ballooned to about $800,000, and commissioners are looking for ways to control the funds.

Commission Chairman Matt Erhardt suggested a 5-mill increase for Social Service, which would raise about $250,000, plus a similar raise next year. But the rest of the commission was hesitant to consider the option.

Commissioners asked Gerhardt if there is a possibility of any significant cuts to his budget.

The only offering he had was possibly to cut home care, which costs about $110,000 a year, though there is some state reimbursement. Gerhardt explained that the home care program has about three full-time equivalent positions.

Commissioner Bob Christensen said this cut would hurt the county's senior citizens.

The program provides care to the elderly who are transitioned to home following a hospital stay. It's made available when there is no insurance to pay for this care.

The commission also debated what to do with its own salary. A commissioner receives a base salary of $21,800 annually, but also receives monetary compensation in lieu of a family health insurance plan, plus pension payments, auditor Paul Trauger said.

Erhardt suggested that the commissioners give themselves the same increase proposed for employees.

But the other commissioners appeared to oppose this.

Christensen said the commissioner's salaries should either be frozen or perhaps even lowered.

In last year's budget, the commissioners cut out-of-state travel requests to zero. They told departments that travel could be taken only if they could find money for it in their existing budget. A few department heads claimed this led to padding of budgets, so commissioners decided to reinstate out-of-state travel line items.

Assistant State's Attorney Brian Grosinger said there was little change in his department's requests from last year's budget.

But he said that the office has been shorthanded the past several months, unable to hire a third attorney to fill out staffing. "We've made three offers, but all three turned us down,"Grosinger said.

Grosinger said there have been problems taking vacations because of the short staff, and out-of-state travel wasn't even a consideration at this point.

The commission is expected to meet again before the end of the month to finalize the budget.

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