Budget surplus not enough for DSU library

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Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says a North Dakota budget surplus wasn’t large enough to finance a Dickinson State University library expansion project, but a university official says the project will continue to be a priority.

Stenehjem was asked for a legal opinion, and said Wednesday the library money can’t be spent because the required budget threshold wasn’t reached.

The Legislature said the Stoxen Library project could be built if tax collections were running at least $25 million ahead of projections by the end of last year.

On Dec. 31 the surplus was calculated at $33.8 million, and Gov. John Hoeven approved giving $8.8 million for the Dickinson project.

However, it turned out the surplus wasn’t figured correctly. It was only $23 million — short of the required $25 million threshold.

Dr. Richard McCallum, president of DSU, said the university understands and respects Stenehjem’s opinion, and remains optimistic about the project.

“Now that we have his opinion, this project, the library addition, continues to be our No. 1 capital construction priority,” McCallum said. “We will work with the chancellor and the chancellor’s staff to approach the state board of higher education during the next cycle that reviews capital construction requests.

“We will present the library addition as our number one priority to the state board of higher education.”

Sen. Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, said he expected the opinion that was handed down from Stenehjem.

“We do have to take the high road on this,” Wardner said. “It’s disappointing because we thought we had done it and then as it turned out we didn’t meet the trigger. It just means we’ll have to try to get it done next session.”

Wardner said there has been a lot of support from other legislators on the matter.

“We continue to be very optimistic,” McCallum said.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says a North Dakota budget surplus wasn’t large enough to finance a Dickinson State University library expansion project, but a university official says the project will continue to be a priority.

Stenehjem was asked for a legal opinion, and said Wednesday the library money can’t be spent because the required budget threshold wasn’t reached.

The Legislature said the Stoxen Library project could be built if tax collections were running at least $25 million ahead of projections by the end of last year.

On Dec. 31 the surplus was calculated at $33.8 million, and Gov. John Hoeven approved giving $8.8 million for the Dickinson project.

However, it turned out the surplus wasn’t figured correctly. It was only $23 million — short of the required $25 million threshold.

Dr. Richard McCallum, president of DSU, said the university understands and respects Stenehjem’s opinion, and remains optimistic about the project.

“Now that we have his opinion, this project, the library addition, continues to be our No. 1 capital construction priority,” McCallum said. “We will work with the chancellor and the chancellor’s staff to approach the state board of higher education during the next cycle that reviews capital construction requests.

“We will present the library addition as our number one priority to the state board of higher education.”

Sen. Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, said he expected the opinion that was handed down from Stenehjem.

“We do have to take the high road on this,” Wardner said. “It’s disappointing because we thought we had done it and then as it turned out we didn’t meet the trigger. It just means we’ll have to try to get it done next session.”

Wardner said there has been a lot of support from other legislators on the matter.

“We continue to be very optimistic,” McCallum said.

— Press reporter Beth Wischmeyer

contributed to this story

Tags: dickinson state university, stoxen library, news, local