Patten: 2027 Session will be an ‘All Hands On Deck’ Battle for Western Counties
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
District 26 Senator Dale Patten delivered a sobering message to the McKenzie County Board of Commissioners during their February 17 meeting, warning that the county’s healthy ending fund balances have placed a “target” on its back heading into the 2027 legislative session.
In a wide-ranging update on the state’s shifting legislative climate, Patten urged the board to strategically reduce their cash reserves, potentially through infrastructure investments or debt service, to prevent eastern North Dakota legislators from eyeing the funds to solve their own budgetary constraints. Patten highlighted a growing disconnect between the oil-producing west and the rest of the state. As rural eastern counties struggle under new 3 percent property tax caps and primary residence credits, legislators are looking toward the “Big Four” oil counties as a source of revenue.
“If you’re sitting there with a hundred or $150 million in an ending fund balance at the end of this year, it will be targeted in the next session,” Patten warned. “It isn’t in their best interest to look at commitments for construction…It’s in their best interest to look at that total dollar amount and then use that to look at readjustments.” Patten noted that some legislators in Bismarck frequently question if the west is “done building infrastructure yet,” often ignoring that Gross Production Tax (GPT) revenue serves as a payment in lieu of property taxes.
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