A new plan for funding the proposed Theodore Roosevelt Library and Museum in Medora, proposed by Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner (R-Dickinson).
A Senate committee has approved a “hog-house” amendment to a House bill. The bill contains $50 million for the state’s share, contingent on $100 million in private fundraising.
Wardner said $15 million will be placed in the University and School Lands Trust, as an endowment. Of that $15 million, $9.8 million comes from the original project on the Dickinson State University campus, and other $5. 2 million from the ending fund balance. Another $35 million would come from the Bank of North Dakota, at Gov. Doug Burgum’s direction, meaning no money comes from the earnings of the Legacy Fund.
"I'll tell you what -- it will be good for North Dakota," Wardner said in an interview. "North Dakota will have a Presidential library -- that'll be huge."
Wardner said it should be a great attraction for visitors to North Dakota.
"I know we only have five or six months at best in the summertime to visit this," Wardner said. "But I do believe we will have a lot of people coming here. Roosevelt is a very popular past president."
The Senate will take up the "hog house" amendment Thursday.
