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CITY, ND – (NewsDakota.com) Barnes County Commissioners are struggling to reach a final agreement concerning the budget.

Earlier this year, Barnes County Commission president Mike Metcalf said the county will be looking at budget cuts and mill increases to hold back the current rate of deficit spending.

On September 6th, the Barnes County Commission agreed to give a 2 percent across the board pay raise to county employees on a 3 to 2 vote with Commissioners Cynthia Schwehr and Mike Metcalf voting against the motion.

Then the commission unanimously voted to raise the current mill levy by 10 mills from 96 to 106 mills at their regular meeting on September 6th.

This isn’t the final decision and it could change again following a public hearing set for September 20th.

Barnes County Auditor Beth Didier said the commission has to make a final decision on the budget by October 10th.