The Legislature’s interim Taxation Committee will be expanding a study of incentives offered to new and expanding businesses to include state incentives.
The original study looks at local incentives – and whether or not they’re still being used – or are necessary.
"What's good for the goose is good for the gander," said Sen. Ray Holmberg (R-Grand Forks), the chairman of the Legislative Council. "Let's look at the state incentives to see if they appear to have continued usage, and whether or not there should be a regular schedule of reviewing these things."
Holmberg says there are more than 30 different incentives for businesses still on the books.
"It only makes sense for the state to look at those different incentives to see if they are effective," said Holmberg.
Former North Dakota Tax Commissioner Cory Fong says businesses and economic developers are welcoming the study.
"We've got some incentives that are obviously working," said Fong. "Our economy right now, and the growth of North Dakota, are partly the reflection of the fact that right now, we have incentives in place that are attracting businesses. But there are certainly areas where we should do some more work -- maybe some incentives are out of date, or are not being used, that deserve some review."
The interim Taxation Committee, chaired by Sen. Dwight Cook (R-Mandan), will do the study.