Home Rule Charter | Video

Retha Colclasure | 3/7/2013

Some Burleigh county authorities want a new jail and say sales tax dollars should pay for it. But they need to establish the county as a home rule county first, and with the way the law is written now that can only be done during a primary or general election.

The legislature could change that. Today, the Senate Political Subdivisions Committee heard testimony about a bill allowing counties to declare special elections to become a home rule county. The bill already passed the House.

If passed by the Senate, Burleigh County Sheriff Pat Heinert says an election could be held as soon as this fall. But others argued that turnout is lower in special elections, and groups can use that to their advantage to get something passed.

"The sooner we can get before the people of Burleigh County to ask them to find another facility, the better off our people are going to be in Burleigh County and the better off my staff is going to be trying to manage the inmate counts that we have," Heinert said.

"I think the law is fine the way it is. I think all elections should take place in either June or November in even numbered year as it once was in North Dakota. There`s no reason to have a sneaky election any other time of the year," said Burleigh County Commissioner Mark Armstrong.

Two other commissioners testified in support of the bill. The committee took no action on the bill.

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