An interim legislative committee has started talking about what to do with the proceeds from the state’s Legacy Fund.
That fund gets oil tax money – and was set up for future needs, when the oil is depleted. But the proceeds now go into the state’s General Fund.
The 2019 Legislature considered a number of proposals for use of those dollars – but all failed.
"I think they failed because we need a better understanding of where this is going to be, where it's all at, and what are we going to do," said the committee chairman, House Majority Leader Chet Pollert (R-Carrington).
Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner (R-Dickinson) said he believes the money should be used for real needs that benefit the state as a whole.
"We're going to have a lot of things come to this table," Wardner said. "And this committee has to sit down and prioritize what is important and what we need to get done."
But Wardner said he believes anything that comes from the committee should be in statute form, rather than a Constitutional change.
"We need flexibility," Wardner said. "Some of the issues we have today aren't going to be issues 30 years from now."
Pollert said he plans to have the committee meet outside of Bismarck, to get other perspectives on what the money should be used for. And Wardner said the committee needs to show the people of North Dakota the funds will be used for their benefit.
"If not, somebody else is going to put it on the ballot, and it may not be in the best interest of the people of North Dakota," Wardner said.
