Where do Grand Forks candidates stand on taxes and spending?

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Tax Commissioner. Brian Kroshus (Republican): Kroshus lists fairness, transparency and protecting taxpayer dollars among his priorities, and says he supports business development and long-term economic growth to create jobs. Mark Nelson (Democratic-NPL): Nelson said the state should examine revenue it may not be collecting, including from corporate farms and the oil field. He also said the Tax Commissioner’s website should use plain language and raised data-security concerns. Nelson said he supports the $1,600 primary-residence property-tax credit enacted in 2025 and believes property taxes are too high. State Senate, District 17. Katie Benton (Democratic-NPL): No public statement found in our sources. Jonathan Sickler (Republican): Sickler said he supports tax cuts and property-tax relief. He also said the state should better analyze how funds are used, including in childcare and housing, to identify more impactful ways to deploy funding. Sickler’s campaign says he will continue focusing on policies and spending intended to enhance quality of life and make North Dakota a good place to live, raise a family and run a business. State Senate, District 43. Mary K Adams (Democratic-NPL): No public statement found in our sources. Jeff Barta (Republican): His campaign site lists securing up to $1,600 in property-tax credits for primary homeowners as a priority. State House, District 17. Don Aandal (Democratic-NPL): No public statement found in our sources. Reed Johnson (Republican): No public statement found in our sources. Mark Sanford (Republican): Sanford said cost of living would be an important factor in the coming session’s budget decisions. State House, District 42 (2-year unexpired term). Nicole Derenne (Democratic-NPL): No public statement found in our sources. Connie Osowski (Republican): Said the 2027 session’s top concern should be balancing property-tax relief with responsible spending, addressing a projected budget gap and the long-term imbalance between recurring revenue and spending. Grand Forks County Commissioner Unexpired 2-Year Term Districts At-Large. Tony Hodny (Nonpartisan): Hodny said he opposes new taxes and favors responsible spending, operational efficiencies, long-term financial stability, and continuing efforts to reduce property taxes. He supports the intent of limits on property-tax growth, but said the current structure disproportionately affects some county departments and services. He favors refining the cap to account for state-mandated county costs and giving counties a reasonable way to fund those obligations. Mitch McCoy (Nonpartisan): McCoy said the county should start preparing its next budget and the one after it, and work with department heads to identify lasting cost savings without affecting required services. He said PILOT programs should be considered when they offer revenue opportunities that benefit the county and taxpayers, but opposed the most recently approved program. McCoy said he is strongly against taxes that would increase the financial burden on Grand Forks County taxpayers. Grand Forks County Commissioner. Rachel Duray (Nonpartisan): She opposed new taxes and said the county should make its current budget work by collecting what is owed, eliminating waste, and directing available funds to essential services and necessities. She said the county should collect revenue where it can—including from the jail, Youth Assessment Center and approved PILOT programs—so it does not need to raise taxes on families. Kimberly Hagen (Nonpartisan): She said the county should review state mandates, communicate with state officials when mandates are not working, plan for capital improvements over the long term, streamline purchasing, and keep departments and special levies within their intended scope. She discussed increasing revenue through the correctional center and Youth Assessment Center, and avoiding duplicated services and purchasing across county departments. Debra (Deb) Kolden-Thibert (Nonpartisan): She praised the commissioners for passing a balanced budget and said state-mandated services and property-tax limits had forced difficult cuts to non-mandated community services. She said foresight and practical preparation are needed to keep future budgets balanced. Andrew Krauseneck (Nonpartisan): He said the county should routinely look for inefficiencies and cost savings and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, rather than reacting only when a large budget deficit arises. He said new taxes could be considered for new growth, but opposed increasing taxes on existing properties while giving new developments substantial tax breaks. He criticized the approved Ray Richards Golf Course PILOT, arguing that the tax break would give away new growth and erode the county tax base. Mark Rustad (Nonpartisan): He said the county should seek state funding for the Youth Assessment Center and unfunded county mandates. He said additional taxation should not be considered unless it offsets property tax and saves county residents money. He said some cuts could be made, but that increased revenue would better help the county keep pace with inflation and provide necessary employee wages.