Sen. Dale Patton briefs Dunn County commissioners on special session, rural health funds, pipelines and production-tax risks
Summary
State Sen. Dale Patton told commissioners the Jan. 21 special session will largely address rural health funding tied to a roughly $199 million allocation, discussed gross production tax impacts on counties including Dunn, and outlined proposed natural-gas pipeline projects and potential nuclear energy study areas.
State Sen. Dale Patton told Dunn County commissioners that a special legislative session beginning Jan. 21 is expected to run about three days and will focus primarily on rural health-care funding. Patton said North Dakota has been allocated about $199 million under the relevant federal/state program and that the bills introduced will be designed to comply with grant restrictions.
Patton warned local officials to monitor ending fund balances because prior changes to the gross production tax (GPT) formula affected heavily impacted counties; he cited losses in recent sessions of roughly $2 million to McKenzie County and about $1.2–$1.4 million to Dunn County tied to formula adjustments. He urged caution in projecting future high balances because lawmakers sometimes use high fund balances to argue for formula changes.
On infrastructure, Patton described multiple proposed natural-gas lines and gas-fired generation projects. He said a 36-inch private line by Rainbow/Intensity is planned to run from the Watford City area through Dunn County to Underwood and that WBI is pursuing a separate line; he said the WBI proposal could carry state-backed capacity commitments of up to $50 million a year for 10 years, though timing and offtake remain uncertain. Patton also discussed consultant findings that identified Dunn County among seven areas with potential for advanced nuclear (small modular reactor) deployment, but he cautioned that early projects are costly and likely to require federal support and substantial local engagement.
Patton addressed water-supply questions, saying efforts to increase outlet capacity from Lake Sakakawea are stalled in part by litigation, and he described ongoing discussions about emergency services and mutual-aid funding for large fires and ambulance coverage. Commissioners asked about school construction funding and the legacy fund; Patton said there are state programs (including low‑interest loans) but no major reallocations of legacy earnings specifically for school construction in recent legislative action.
Patton closed by inviting commissioners to raise issues as they arise and to request follow-up visits.
