Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) -- A local committee has studied, crunched numbers, and are now giving presentations, on the June 10th election ballot question, concerning implementing a tax, to rebuild failing Stutsman County Roads.

On Thursday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable Channel 2, committee member and
Stutsman County Commissioner, Dale Marks, capsulized the power point presentation being given to the public in various Stutsman County, and Jamestown locations.

Marks says the road committee consists of himself along with County Commissioner Doug Kaiser, City Council, County Road Committee member, John Granbinger, and Stutsman County Road Superintendent Mike Zimmerman.

Marks says, last September the committee inspected, and rated the rural roads to determine repairs. The study then determined the total cost of the road work will be over 21-million dollars from 2009-2013, with an inflation factor of 8-percent. Estimated at 540-thousand dollars per mile.

Marks’ power point presentation includes breakdowns of what roads need to be turned back to gravel, overlaid, or chip-sealed along with the costs. He points out that after any work is finished, a maintenance program will be implemented.

Funding if approved by voters will be a combination of a 10-year bond, a 1-percent countywide sales tax, and 35-mills on agricultural property, expected to generate 670-thousand dollars, annually.

He points out, if passed by voters, countywide, the 1-percent countywide tax would go into effect on January 1st 2009, and sunset, or end, on December 31st 2019. A vote of Stutsman County residents would be need to extend the 1-percent sales tax
beyond 2019. Marks adds, the 1-percent sales tax would have a 25-dollar cap, for any purchases of 25-hundred dollars or more.

Meanwhile, if approved by voters, on June 10th the increased mill levy on agricultural property will go into effect on January first, and will not sunset, but will be capped at 670-thousand dollars per year. If the State Board of Equalization raises the true and full valuation of land higher than 280-dollars, as it is now, the mill levy will decrease.

Presentations and question and answer session are being held countywide, by committee members. In addition this Saturday May 17th at 1-p.m., the committee will give the power point
presentation at 1-p.m., at the Buffalo Mall, in the former Sam Goody’s location, part of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Local/Regional Issues Committee election forum that day.

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