Grand Forks County Commissioner Choose 3
The Commission approves policy and the budget, oversees spending, and administers county programs.
Biographical Information
What are your top priorities?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What is the biggest challenge facing the county, and how would you address it?
Candidate has not yet responded.
How would you address the housing needs of the county?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Do you expect that the new state law capping property tax budget increases at 3% will impact the county’s budget?
Candidate has not yet responded.
How would you address the county’s list of infrastructure maintenance projects?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone Number
218-230-9916
What are your top priorities?
While there are a variety of things I would like to address in the county, I would narrow it down to two. The first would include maintaining a balanced budget to ensure we are spending wisely. The second would be working with stakeholders of the Youth Assessment Center to keep the facility running efficiently without putting the burden on the taxpayers of Grand Forks County.
What is the biggest challenge facing the county, and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge that I see facing Grand Forks County is maintaining a balanced budget while continuing to provide the essential services residents rely on. This could be addressed by continuing to find efficiencies across county operations, exploring creative ways to increase revenue and reviewing the dollars that go to contracted services. We also need to look ahead for large needs, such as facility maintenance and space for potential judicial expansion.
How would you address the housing needs of the county?
Addressing the county housing shortage is going to look different when you address the underlying needs of each community. What works in the city of Grand Forks is going to look different in a city like Thompson or Gilby. This could be studying the housing needs, finding grants for rehab projects, and partnering with developers and builders to grow the access of affordable homes.
Do you expect that the new state law capping property tax budget increases at 3% will impact the county’s budget?
The 3% cap on property tax will absolutely impact on the county's budget, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Those elected to positions of stewarding taxpayer dollars need to be mindful of how they are spending. Hard decisions will continue to need to be made to make sure the county is providing the services it is mandated to by the state. This would also include providing good wages/benefits to the staff as well as capitol improvement projects.
How would you address the county’s list of infrastructure maintenance projects?
The county board needs to continue to work collaboratively with staff to make sure these projects are completed in a timely manner while also looking to future needs. Monitoring a 5, 10 and even a 20-year plan to see what needs to be prioritized, while also looking out for potential grant dollars to fund said projects.
Biographical Information
Campaign Email
debkolden@gmail.com
What are your top priorities?
-Commitment to transportation safety on the intersection of Highway 2, County Rd 5 and Airport Road
-Develop and prepare 5 year capital project budget
-Maintain 15 to 20% of property tax budget for reserves
-Address the PILOT program (payment in lieu of tax incentives) for 5 years or less at the State Level as the burden of this program falls on a smaller tax base.
What is the biggest challenge facing the county, and how would you address it?
Finances will always be the county's most pressing issues. Challenges that should be at the forefront include providing adequate and competitive salary increases while health insurance costs continue to rise in order to maintain quality county employees.
Planning for future capital projects such as dams located within the county, roads, and bridges that will need maintenance, rotating county vehicles and road graders, and upkeep on county buildings is key to budget planning for the future.
How would you address the housing needs of the county?
Streamline zoning and reduce red tape such as reforming zoning codes to allow more twin homes, triplexes, quadplexes and accessory dwelling units would allow builders to fit more units per lot.
Do you expect that the new state law capping property tax budget increases at 3% will impact the county’s budget?
It has impacted the county's budget. The commission was forced into severe triage mode. To balance the budget for the first time in years, the commission requested a 30 percent reduction, which was not easy for many departments. Having foresight and practical preparation is the only way to continue to have a balanced budget.
How would you address the county’s list of infrastructure maintenance projects?
Fiscal responsibility, project prioritization, and strategic funding, Infrastructure maintenance must be handled with efficiency rather than broad tax increases
Biographical Information
What are your top priorities?
Balanced budget - we should not operate beyond our means, and we should not continually ask taxpayers for more. We need to be good stewards. Safety is number one - the sheriff department must be funded accordingly; but, it must be funded efficiently and effectively. Infrastructure (bridges, roads) must be maintained, again, efficiently and effectively. Transparency & accountability are top priorities - we represent the people, the people should have questions answered, and have visibility.
What is the biggest challenge facing the county, and how would you address it?
Balanced budget - I won't give away tax revenues via unfair tax incentives for non-primary sector developments (and primary sector ones will need to show a very clear net benefit for taxpayers) - I'll try to bring in as much state and federal money as possible, to fund infrastructure and other services (not saying yes to all funds, as some require unreasonable matching local funds) - I'll work WITH all departments to figure out how we can minimize expenses, so we don't have to increase taxes.
How would you address the housing needs of the county?
First, have a transparent discussion about the housing needs of our county - this hasn't been had, especially when it comes to the City of GF, it's been a misleading narrative to push tax incentives for more apartments - so, first determine the true needs, which will most likely be needs the smaller, rural areas in the county have - then have a realistic conversation about what the county can or can't do - I am not in favor of tax incentives that unfairly compete with existing property owners.
Do you expect that the new state law capping property tax budget increases at 3% will impact the county’s budget?
It shouldn't even be a conversation. We shouldn't be raising county residents' taxes by 3%, anyways. The cap is great, and it's sad that it needed to take state intervention. We should work to get our increase to 0% - and, if possible, we should work to lower taxes for county residents. We won't be able to do that immediately, but through thoughtful reductions, fair and equitable, we should be able to help all county residents keep more of their hard earned money.
How would you address the county’s list of infrastructure maintenance projects?
I would continue to have discussions with the county engineer, learn all I can about what the needs are, what the wants are - make sure a solid plan is in place - make sure we leverage state and federal dollars, as much as possible - make sure quality county employees, like our county engineer, have the tools they need, the crews they need, to effectively, and most importantly efficiently, do the work that needs to be done - not to go outside that scope, but to do what is needed.
Biographical Information
What are your top priorities?
Long term budget security
What is the biggest challenge facing the county, and how would you address it?
The budget forecast. I would look at reasonable cuts to solve it
How would you address the housing needs of the county?
Look at any housing project with an open mind. I’ve not yet seen one. Typically those issues are handled at the city level
Do you expect that the new state law capping property tax budget increases at 3% will impact the county’s budget?
The new caps definitely make us sharpen our pencils. We were hired to do a job whether it’s hard or easy
How would you address the county’s list of infrastructure maintenance projects?
We have put in an 8 year plan that I believe will be very effective for future budgets