DOT asks for four FTEs; panel probes $1.1 billion capital line and matching rules

The Appropriations — Government Operations Division on an unspecified date questioned the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) request for four new full-time positions and probed the large capital-assets total shown on the agency’s long sheet.

Deputy Director Mike Gerhardt told the committee DOT requests four new FTEs: one bridge load rater/railroad coordinator, two highway operators for western North Dakota tied to the Highway 85 expansion, and one local government team member. Gerhardt said the bridge load-rater role supports bridge rating and analysis and that the railroad coordination piece addresses construction projects that intersect rail facilities. Deputy director Lineman (as identified in the transcript) told the committee the department currently has one person doing bridge load rating and sought redundancy for this specialized, federally required function.

DOT director Ron Hankey reported the department’s vacancy rate was about 2.8% (28 FTEs of 1,001) as of the printout cited to the committee. DOT said it supports the four FTEs included in the Armstrong executive budget rather than a larger set of positions that appeared in another budget version (12 FTEs in the Bergham/Bergum version).

Committee members pressed DOT on a capital-assets line of about $1.1 billion shown on the blue sheet and long sheet. DOT staff explained the capital-assets number is a combination of federal funds and the state matching dollars used for roads, bridges and equipment. They said sources behind that total include the highway tax distribution fund (gas and diesel tax receipts), motor vehicle excise tax continuing appropriations, federal formula funds, discretionary federal grant funding, and previously appropriated CIF/CIF-like funds referenced during discussion. The department said some state matching funds may come from the flex fund (50% of motor vehicle excise tax as described in the transcript) and other state highway funds.

Committee members asked whether federal formula funds and discretionary federal grants can be used off the state highway system. Ron Hankey said federal dollars can be spent on federally eligible county major collectors and that not all county or township roads are eligible for federal funds. He said the flex fund exists to allow state dollars to be used off the state system and to help counties, cities and townships meet matching requirements. DOT staff emphasized that federal dollars cannot be used to match other federal grants, but flex-fund or other state dollars can be used for matches.

On a Highway 85 item, DOT said the agency requested approximately $1 million to support two FTEs and two snowplow vehicles for the expansion. DOT said it has a plan, subject to legislative approval, that could include a loan to cover $85 million requested for discretionary matching and related needs; staff described different figures in the competing budget versions and said further clarification would be provided.

Several senators asked for clearer line-item breakdowns and for staff to add an additional column on the statement-of-purpose printout to reflect leadership guidance on salary increases and pool treatment. DOT staff said they would supply the requested details and that amendment language could be prepared when leadership finalizes pooling percentages.

Ending: The committee recessed to review materials and asked DOT and budget staff for clearer accounting of capital funding sources, the uses of flex funds and the exact loan/financing plan for the Highway 85 request; no formal appropriation vote was recorded in the transcript.