JSDC budget sent back to board

The 2016 budget for the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. is headed back to its board of directors for review after the Stutsman County Commission objected to the size of the budget increase.
In May, the JSDC Board of Directors approved a budget that included a 5 percent overall increase to the operating budget and a 5 percent increase for employee compensation. The $457,000 budget did not fall within guidelines set by the Stutsman County Commission.
Casey Bradley, county auditor/chief operating officer, told the JSDC Executive Committee Monday that the county had set a limit of a 3 percent mill levy increase in property taxes for all funds controlled by the county. He also said the County Commission had questions about the 5 percent salary increases being too high.
Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen, JSDC Executive Committee member, said the JSDC budget could be revised to include a 3 percent increase in the salary budget. All other budget line items would remain the same including the recruiting and marketing budgets, which Andersen said are the main work of the JSDC.
“... We should look at that budget, revise the salaries to 3 percent,” Andersen said. “And then make sure we still have the numbers that we feel are adequate for the job we have to do. … I don’t think anyone thinks that marketing isn’t going to be more expensive next year than this year.”
Andersen estimated the JSDC budget would increase about 4.7 percent to 4.8 percent. The 3 percent increase to the county tax levy would leave less funds available for economic development projects, Bradley said. The county economic development mill levy generates about $400,000 in revenue each year. The county pays 20 percent of the JSDC operating expenses, about $90,000, with the remaining money used for incentive programs.
In other business, the JSDC approved leasing office space to Bechtel, which has been negotiating with CHS to serve as the construction management company for the planned CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant at Spiritwood.
Bechtel asked for a six-month lease with the option to renew or cancel at the end of 2015 depending on the status of the CHS contract.
The JSDC Executive Committee also agreed to retain an attorney for negotiations with Bechtel for land to be used for a crew camp for the CHS project. The JSDC will request a zoning change from Spiritwood Township for the land anticipated to be used for the crew camp.
Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at
knorman@jamestownsun.com