Burleigh County: Previous Auditor Advocated For Reform
In a document from 1998, former Burleigh County Auditor Kevin Glatt advocated for restructuring of county government; in Burleigh County and statewide. His suggestions had been ignored, until now.
I’ve written extensively about the Burleigh County situation in recent months.
And the North Dakota Watchdog Network will be hosting a Townhall Meeting at the Bismarck Public Library on February 20th, 2025 at 6pm.
Since that last article, I was directed to a document written by former Burleigh County Auditor Kevin Glatt in 1998, which was his thesis while pursuing his Masters Degree in Public Administration titled “County Government 2000”.
In this document, he outlines the challenges and need for reform that all county governments face in North Dakota, but it is obvious that some of the writing specifically applies to Burleigh County and was largely ignored.
From Page 25-27 of the PDF:
Then Glatt outlines his proposal for a balanced solution:
His approach to restructuring county government, while advocating for the Auditor to remain elected is nearly identical to the compromise solution I’ve written about previously based simply on observations (I had not seen this document until today).
I would urge all Burleigh County Commissioners, and anyone concerned with the situation here in Burleigh County, or in other counties to read this document.
Glatt had been Burleigh County Auditor for 11 years at the time he wrote this, and served for another 20 years. His recommendations match up nearly perfectly to what many are seeing and suggesting in the current situation.
He seemed to know what was headed Burleigh County’s way, 27 years ago.
Perhaps it is time to take notice since we are now in the middle of the crisis he predicted.
P.S. It is important to point out and remind citizens that Glatt also had a critical role in pressuring the City of Bismarck to end its TIF District back in 2015:
From the Bismarck Tribune in 2017:
The Bismarck City Commission dissolved the TIF district located in downtown Bismarck late last month. City commissioners voted unanimously to end the district in an effort to garner more support for the city's Renaissance Zone program.
TIF districts are economic development tools that divert a portion of property taxes from the city's general fund to special projects within the district.
BPS — which will receive the largest share of tax dollars from the former district properties — will collect an estimated $1 million in 2017. Bismarck Parks and Recreations will collect $354,000, the city will collect $582,000 and the county will collect $478,000, all reaching a total of $2.4 million.
These numbers were first reported last week by the North Dakota Watchdog Network. Burleigh County Auditor Kevin Glatt confirmed Wednesday the numbers are his estimates.
I bring this up not to open old wounds in Bismarck/Burleigh, but to illustrate how Glatt as Auditor successfully used his position to advocate for reforms that eventually did happen.