Budget hole: McKenzie County transfers $300K to shore up E911 services
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
McKenzie County Commissioners approved a significant transfer of funds this week, moving $300,000 to the E911 budget to cover operational costs and ensure the emergency service remains fully funded for the year. The transfer, though large, was described as a budgeted necessity to fill a persistent shortfall in the funding model for emergency dispatch services. The issue was raised during the commission meeting as part of the discussion surrounding the presented bills. A payment to the McKenzie County Treasurer for the transfer was questioned by Commissioner Kathy Skarda. It was explained that it was “a budgeted transfer just to make our 911 budget whole for the year.”
E911 services, which include crucial contracts like the state radio contract, are funded primarily by a specific user fee. “Out of that budget comes state radio contract costs, and into that budget comes a portion of a $1.50 fee paid by everyone who has a line-cell phone, landline, whatever that looks like,” County Treasurer Johnsrud stated. However, this fee has proven insufficient to cover the full cost of keeping the county’s emergency dispatch system operational. “It’s usually never enough to cover all of the expenditures that come out of there,” Johnsrud noted. “We’ve been sitting very close to balance for the last few years knowing that we would likely have some transfers that needed to happen. And we do.” Commissioner Skarda indicated that her initial inquiry was satisfied by the explanation. The approval of the transfer ensures the county’s emergency system budget ends the fiscal year “back in the positive.” The motion to approve the bills, including the $300,000 transfer, passed with a unanimous vote.
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