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Thursday, April 26, 2012 n Covering the Williston Basin n Volume 2, Issue 17 Gov: ‘Hold the line on


spending’ Agency officials also advised to look at 3 percent spending cuts


By NICK SMITH Bismarck Tribune


16 to hold the line on spending and iden- tify spending cuts for the next biennium. Gov. Jack Dalrymple outlined his 2013-


15 biennium budget guidelines in an April 16 afternoon address at the Capitol. “I am calling on you to develop a hold-


even budget for the 2013-2015 biennium,” Dalrymple said. “I also ask that you de- velop an optional package in which you identify potential spending reductions of 3 percent from your baseline budget in the event that savings are needed.” Dalrymple said the state’s economy is


strong, but he said it’s important to con- tain spending and improve government efficiency even in good economic times. “We must demonstrate that we are


good stewards of the people’s money and that we will do everything we can to op- erate a highly efficient state government,” the governor said. Dalrymple told department heads to


continue looking for ways to be more ef- ficient. “Consider all opportunities to leverage


State department heads were told April TOM STROMME/Tribune


Gov. Jack Dalrymple, center, meets with Pam Sharp, left, of the Office of Management and Budget, and Sparb Collins, director of the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System after delivering his budget guidelines for 2013-15 to department heads on April 16.


or reprioritize existing resources, includ- ing staffing. Keep our best programs, con- solidate when it creates efficiencies and eliminate efforts that no longer fit our priorities,” Dalrymple said. He said efforts to fund flood relief


throughout the state and infrastructure needs in oil country will continue, and a balance will be struck between address- ing these needs and holding the line on spending. “It is during times of strong economic


first consider all other options before re- questing a new full-time equivalent em- ployee,” Dalrymple said. He told department heads they can


submit staff changes in their optional re- quests. Dalrymple noted that despite the re-


growth that we must be especially mind- ful not to create an overly expansive gov- ernment that burdens future generations,” Dalrymple said. The governor acknowledged a growing


workload in several state departments. “If your agency is experiencing signifi- cant growth in the demand for services,


A one-of-a-kind town


Mott steps up to help new family after home tragedy — 4


cord oil revenues coming to the state, there are limits on what can be spent. He said by statute the state general fund is capped at $300 million in oil revenues in its budget. “That represents less than 10 percent


of general fund expenditures. There is a misconception that any budget challenges we face can be easily remedied with our strong oil revenues,” Dalrymple said. The rest of the state oil revenues are


Oil field waste


facility gets OK Local residents bring petition against site chosen south of Belfield — 6


Badlands site will not be auctioned


By LAUREN DONOVAN Bismarck Tribune


land in a specially protected area of the Badlands will not be auctioned May 1 after all. The section, which is in a roadless


Minerals on a section of state school


area on the Little Missouri National Grasslands on Bullion Butte, has become something of a political ping-pong ball. In the span of three months, it’s been on the lease docket off, on, and now off again; this time because the oil company that nominated it for leasing has backed off.


formed to lease minerals and remain a non-operating partner in Bakken forma- tion oil wells, said April 20 it is no longer interested in the section. It made that decision after state Land Commissioner Lance Gaebe said it wouldn’t be available for surface occupancy. In other words, the only way to tap


Stratex Oil and Gas, a company


the oil will be through a horizontal well, and Gaebe said technology gives well drillers a reach as far as three miles deep underground. “There are ways to get at the minerals


and protect the surface,” Gaebe said. Mike McEnroe, spokesman for the


placed in other funds. Thirty percent of mineral acres on Bullion Butte for other Continued on page 13


North Dakota Chapter of the Wildlife Society, said he was pleased to see the section come off the list, but the state Board of University and School Lands should make it permanent. He said he’d like the state to trade its


Continued on page 14 Sick fish at


oil spill site Two years after spill, fish may be suffering effects of petroleum — 24


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