Industrial Commission, Department of Mineral Resources outline $20.25M request, staffing and program needs at budget hearing

At a legislative budget hearing before the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division, North Dakota Industrial Commission Executive Director Karen Tyler and Department of Mineral Resources Director Nathan Anderson detailed the Industrial Commission Administrative Office’s request for $20,248,083 for the upcoming biennium and described related program and staffing needs.

Tyler told the committee the Administrative Office and the Public Finance Authority are now separated on the budget from the Department of Mineral Resources and that the split was intended to make fiscal, human resources and technology responsibilities clearer. “It is a pleasure for us to appear before you to discuss the appropriation for the Industrial Commission Administrative Office and the agencies and programs that the commission oversees,” Tyler said.

Why it matters: the request covers ongoing operating costs, one-time projects and state matches tied to federal grants; officials said funding will support a new grant-management system, transmission-authority staffing, grid-resiliency grant rounds and ongoing litigation costs tied to lignite matters. Committee members pressed agency leaders for details on recurring costs and program execution.

Grant management system and software costs

Tyler said the commission completed development of a customized grant-management system with vendor support and is seeking $275,000 in ongoing funding to cover maintenance and licensing. The agency reported an estimated ongoing support cost of about $130,000 per year. Brenna Jessen, fiscal manager and project lead for the system, said…