Morton County commissioners approved a 2007 budget Tuesday that will slightly decrease the number of mills levied, but leave taxpayers seeing a higher county tax bill due to increased property values.

City of Mandan residents will see a .48 reduction in its mill levy, while rural areas will see a .98 reduction. Commissioners were able to do this while at the same time dedicating a mill to help pay off the ever-increasing county poor line item, which has ballooned to nearly $800,000.

County employees will get 3 percent pay raises plus $100 toward a single-person health insurance policy for those who are on the county plan. County commissioners froze their own salaries for the second year in a row, which will save just more than $3,000.

Commissioners did consider reducing the county's contribution to the Mandan Progress Organization. Auditor Paul Trauger said the MPO has been funded $100,000 by the city of Mandan through sales tax revenue. The money is used for for a full-time salary and secretarial help. Morton has contributed $5,000 annually to the MPO.

Commissioner Mark Bitz made a motion to cut the contribution to $2,500, noting that other than making a request for the money, the MPOhad not appeared before the commission with a presentation. Commissioner Bob Christensen said that the city should have been notified and such a cut would lead to ramifications and a further distancing of the county from the city.

Discussion then turned to the need for additional space for prisoners in the jail.

"Interest rates are going down, and this should be the time we add onto the jail," Commissioner Matt Erhardt said. "I'm getting tired of paying transportation expenses for prisoners to Mercer, Stark and Burleigh counties. We should take the costs for manpower, vehicles, fuel and equipment, and apply them toward expanding our own jail."

Sheriff Bob Erhardt said that finding space for prisoners and for employees to do their work was difficult.

He said he would like to move employees from offices in the basement because of what he feels are unhealthy conditions created by diesel fuel contamination.

Bitz said there is a plan being considered to add onto the law enforcement center to provide more space for communications. This would allow for a combining of county and city communications staff.

Trauger said the city provides $35,000 a year to the county for jail space. He also said that the city has indicated it was willing to pay for the space it utilizes at the center, but never has. There is no signed contract to that effect.

It has been estimated that to increase the LEC for communications and to provide additional room for prisoners will cost $3.5 million, Trauger said.

Bitz said that the county should turn to the Mandan Remediation Trust to provide funding for a fix of the LEC basement, or look for a contribution toward expanding the ground level area of the LEC.

Bitz said that Leggette, Brashears and Graham, the company directing contamination cleanup efforts, had twice planned to appear before the commission, but had been asked to be taken off the agenda both times.

Commissioners took no action on expansion of the LEC, but did approve the 2007 budget on a unanimous vote.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 701-250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)