Conference committee approves cuts to research station budget, sets $100,000 for North Central grape research

A Senate conference committee meeting approved amendments to bill 2020 that reduce some operating and base-budget items for the state research and extension system and allocate $100,000 specifically for grape and vineyard research at the North Central site.

The committee voted to adopt a package that, as described during debate, cuts $48,000 from a roughly $320,000 operating line, cuts $60,000 from a $619,000 base adjustment line, and sets aside $100,000 for grape research at North Central. Senator Dwyer and several representatives and senators discussed how those reductions were arrived at and how they would affect research stations and extension operations.

Why it matters: The measures reallocate limited general or special fund resources within the research and extension budget and preserve funding for a planned building project in Williston, while attempting to reduce the committee's general-fund exposure.

Discussion and context

Senator Dwyer told the committee he had spoken with Dr. Lardy and that the agency’s local advisory group and its new interim director in Williston should have flexibility to shape the planned Nesen building. "He agreed that he would be supportive of whatever they decide they wanted to do up there in terms of the building out at Nesen," Dwyer said. Committee discussion reiterated that a $1,700,000 carryover and a $400,000 SIF authorization remain available for that project, and that private fundraising could be used for cost overruns.

Committee members spent most of the discussion on how to trim the agency’s base and operating budgets without removing deferred maintenance or a carbon-specialist position. Representative Brandenburg offered a compromise package that several members described as a mix of targeted cuts plus the dedicated $100,000 for grape/vineyard research at North Central. "I would support the hundred thousand, you know, and and dedicated towards North Central," Brandenburg said during debate.

Several speakers warned against deep across-the-board cuts to operating lines because some operating costs reflect mandatory, revenue-neutral items (for example, fleet costs) or temporary summer salaries for research work. Grant (staff) explained the $619,000 figure was a base-budget adjustment added to the extension agency budget and that it should be considered together with base payroll changes.

Formal actions and votes

- Motion (for discussion purposes) to adopt Representative Brandenburg’s proposal (cuts of $48,000 and $60,000 and a $100,000 allocation to grape research): moved by Representative Brandenburg; second recorded. Roll call recorded in the transcript was: Representative Brandenburg — Yes; Representative Monson — Yes; Representative Fisher — No; Senator McGuire — Yes; Senator Wozniak — Yes; Chairman Herbollick — Yes. The chair declared the motion carried.

- Final motion to approve bill 2020 as further amended: moved by Senator Wansig; seconded by Representative Vandenberg. Roll call recorded in the transcript was: Representative Bridal Byrd — Yes; Representative Monson — Yes; Representative Fisher — No; Senator Dwyer — Yes; Senator Woznick — Yes; Chairman Oogoli — Yes. The chair announced the measure approved as amended.

What was left unchanged

Committee members specifically said they did not touch deferred maintenance funding, the carbon-specialist allocation, or the $400,000 SIF authorization tied to the Nesen building during the amendment vote. Speakers also emphasized that the $1,700,000 carryover tied to the building remains in place.

Next steps

Committee members indicated the conference report on bill 2020 would proceed after the committee’s approval of the amended package. Several speakers urged prompt finalization so the budget work does not extend further into additional meetings.

Ending

With the two recorded votes carried, committee members concluded the conference meeting and signaled the amended bill 2020 would move forward for final processing.