The 2013 Legislature set aside $550,000 for interim committees to hire consultants to help them with their studies.
But the committees only spent just under $286,000.
"Over the last three biennia, we've spent probably about half, or maybe even a little less than half, than we budgeted for," said Sen. Ray Holmberg (R-Grand Forks), the chairman of the Legislative Council.
The Human Services Committee spent $44,000 with Schulte Consulting on a behavioral health study. Holmberg says that was one of the more interesting studies in the interim.
"At the end of the day, they found that there are a number of issues that are self-imposed, and that helps lead to fewer health care workers," said Holmberg. "They are imposed by the various groups that license or manage a particular health area. Some would call them fences they put around them."
Holmberg says another of the more important studies concerned the state’s retirement system – and the Government Finance Committee hired Arthur Gallagher and Company for $32,500.
"In essence, it was bringing in a new pair of eyes to look at the current system, and look at the consultants we've used for the retirement plans," said Holmberg. "And they found the current consultants are doling a pretty good job. Their projections are pretty accurate. We didn't find a big difference."
The most spent on a consultant was $125,000. That went to Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson – for an oil industry study. Another $150,000 was budgeted for a higher education consultant – but was not used.
