Appropriations committee adopts plan to accelerate Water Resources projects using trust‑fund cash, line of credit and targeted bonding

The House Appropriations Committee on Friday advanced House Bill 10‑20, the Department of Water Resources budget and a multi‑biennium funding strategy that would accelerate a slate of water projects through a combination of trust‑fund cash, a proposed $200 million strategic line of credit from the Bank of North Dakota and a $100 million bonding package dedicated to the Southwest Pipeline.

Representative Swantek introduced the bill and a public presentation that outlined a 14‑year needs assessment the department compiled. Department director Reese (self‑identified as director of the Department of Water Resources during the hearing) and Bank of North Dakota officials described a model that would use existing cash on hand in the Resources Trust Fund more aggressively to fund projects now and hedge against inflation and construction‑cost escalation.

Reese told the committee that water projects typically take multiple years — sometimes close to a decade — to complete and that appropriated trust‑fund dollars are often obligated early but spent over extended timelines. "With all that goes into constructing water infrastructure ... in some cases it…