The full picture · 2 sources

Burleigh County commissioners approve reimbursement for nearly $900,000 property tax calculation error

Updated Oct 20, 8:09 PM CT. Every fact below links to the source that reported it.

What the primary sources show

Burleigh County commissioners voted to reimburse local taxing entities affected by a property tax calculation error in the 2025 mill levy. [KFYR-TV]
The error occurred when mobile home values and in-lieu-of-tax payments were incorrectly included in mill levy calculations, which artificially depressed tax rates and reduced revenue collected. [North Dakota's Watchdog Update]
The shortfall affected the City of Bismarck, Bismarck Parks and Recreation, City of Lincoln, public school systems, and emergency service districts. [North Dakota's Watchdog Update]
State law assigns mill levy calculation duties to the elected county auditor, but county administrators transferred those duties to an interim finance director following an administrative reorganization, bypassing the auditor's office entirely. [North Dakota's Watchdog Update]
Finance Director Taylor Schmitt said final reimbursement amounts could be slightly lower than initially estimated and will be brought to commissioners for approval at their next meeting. [KFYR-TV]

What are the exact final reimbursement amounts to each affected entity?
When will the reimbursement payments be distributed?
Will the county restore the county auditor's statutory authority over mill levy calculations?

KFYR-TV: KFYR reported the commissioners' decision to correct the error through reimbursement, with the State's Attorney's legal advice supporting the action. Read it → · Ads
North Dakota's Watchdog Update: North Dakota's Watchdog expanded coverage to highlight a governance breakdown: the auditor's office was sidelined and an unelected finance director calculated mill levies in violation of state law, while officials responded defensively to public scrutiny. Read it →

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