DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – The Devils Lake City Commission held a special meeting on Tuesday, July 18, at noon in City Hall. Mayor Jim Moe, and City Commissioners Rob Hach and Jason Pierce were in attendance, while Commissioner Lisa Uhlenkamp and Commissioner Joe Knowski were absent.
The meeting largely revolved around the 2027 budget and other financial items for this year. Interim City Auditor Rob Johnson presented the financials during the meeting.
The first item was 2026 valuations for the City of Devils Lake. The total true and full value for this year is $539,286,300, and the taxable value is $25,403,204. One mill of the total taxable value was calculated at $25,403. The utilities are estimated at $12,000,000 for true and full, and $600,000 for taxable value. The final utility values are generally not available until mid to late August.
For the property tax cap, the 2026 dollars levied ($2,182,047) received a new growth of $4,813, resulting in an adjusted year levy of $2,186,860. Three percent of the adjusted year levy ($65,606) was added to determine the maximum dollars levied for 2027 per the property tax cap at $2,252,466. That amount is divided by the total taxable value ($25,403,204) and multiplied by 1000 to find an estimated mill rate of 88.67 if max dollars are levied.
The projected total revenue for the Devils Lake Regional Airport in 2026 is estimated to be $748,741, which is almost $120,000 less than last year, and total expenditures are projected to be $702,115. The projected revenue for 2027 is $800,023 and expenditures at $775,716.
The Lake Region Public Library is expected to pull in $354,875 in total revenue this year, roughly $30,000 less than last year, and the expenditures are projected to be $388,672. In 2027, revenue is expected to increase to $372,321, and the expenditures will decrease to $367,004.
Economic Development revenue for both 2026 and 2027 is projected to come in at around $308,000, and total expenses are estimated at $328,980 and $326,000, respectively. The Lake Region Growth Fund’s projected revenue is at $264,980 this year and $289,288 in 2027.
Upcoming special meetings for the City Commission have been scheduled for Monday, Aug. 3 at 4 p.m., followed by noon meetings on Wednesday, Aug. 5 and Friday, Aug. 7. The next regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 21, will be a public hearing on the 2027 budget, and another regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 5, will be the final 2027 budget approval.