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Appropriations panel advances water budget (10/20) with unanimous approval; $150 million line of credit and project allocations reviewed
Summary
The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division reviewed multiple water-project sections, discussed carryover and project funding, and voted unanimously to advance bill 10/20 as amended to full committee; agency staff said most carryover funds are already obligated.
The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division voted unanimously to advance the water-budget measure tagged 10/20, approving a committee-amended version and sending it toward full committee consideration.
Committee members reviewed Section 10 and a series of water-related sections that include governance and reports for regional projects, a proposed $50,000,000 Southwest pipeline line of credit and a further $100,000,000 carryover line, and allocations for regular water-supply projects. The chair described the document as the bill the panel had “agreed to” and asked members to confirm it was ready to move forward.
Chris Katamus, director of administration for the North Dakota Department of Water Resources, told the panel that most of the carryover balance is already obligated. “Especially after today’s State Water Commission meeting, the majority of that is, obligated. The largest bucket that would have unobligated would be flood control at about $30,000,000 of the unobligated,” Katamus said.
The committee discussed how the bill distributes a $15,000,000 conveyance allocation and a separate $4,750,000 line item for general water, and noted changes from earlier house proposals. The chair said the bill maintains previously agreed numbers for several projects and reduces one prior amount by roughly $11,000,000 compared with earlier drafts.
After reviewing sections on governance, financial planning, and study requirements for additional intakes and governance models, a member moved “a due pass on ten-twenty as amended.” The motion was seconded, and the committee polled the division. Recorded aye votes included Chairman Sorbach, Senator Kalman, Senator Thomas, Senator Shively, Senator Meyer, Senator Coleman and Senator Shagli. The motion carried and committee leaders said they would carry the bill forward.
Committee members said they planned additional votes in full committee and expected some conference work before final enactment. The panel set the bill to be considered in the morning full-committee meeting, with continuation of other pending items afterward.
The water-budget measure as amended will move on for further consideration; committee members did not specify an enactment date in this session record.
