Dalrymple Calls Special Legislative Session

Press Release

Gov. Jack Dalrymple today announced that he has issued an executive order, calling for a special session of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly to address necessary General Fund budget adjustments for the 2015-2017 biennium. The Governor has called for the Legislature to assemble in special session on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 9 a.m.

The state's latest revenue forecast projects that, without corrective action, the General Fund would fall $310 million short by the end of the current biennium.

Joined by majority leaders in the Capitol, Dalrymple said a combination of additional General Fund budget reductions and legislative approval for contingency funds will resolve the revenue shortfall and balance the General Fund on June 30, 2017. The Governor and majority leaders said the shortfall can be remedied without any reductions to K-12 school funding and without further budget reductions within the Department of Human Services. Additionally, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will also receive special consideration in the budget plan.

"The overall plan does not include across-the-board spending reductions," Dalrymple said.

"I have talked with legislative leaders from both parties and we all believe a combination of some targeted, short-term budget adjustments and the use of some contingency funds offers the best path forward to ensure that the budget is balanced when the biennium comes to an end a year from now," Dalrymple said. "We are fortunate in North Dakota that our Legislature had the foresight to guard against a major revenue downturn by focusing on one-time capital investments rather than ongoing appropriations, and by setting aside strong cash reserves."

Dalrymple said leading into the special session, he will work with the Office of Management and Budget as well as other agency directors to identify additional savings that minimize impacts on public services. The Governor will forward to the Legislature his recommended budget reductions as well as his recommendations for the use of contingency funds to offset any remaining revenue shortfall.

"We are in a good position to manage the shortfall, and that speaks well for our overall financial strength considering the major impacts on revenue caused by low prices for both oil and agricultural commodities," Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner said.

House Majority Leader Al Carlson said he expects the Legislature will move quickly in addressing the shortfall.

"Our goal will be to keep the special session focused and streamlined so that we resolve the shortfall and keep ourselves on solid financial footing leading into the next biennium," he said.

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