Dickinson to receive $1 million through oil, gas tax distribution

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State Treasurer Kelly Schmidt announced Tuesday Dickinson and Minot will receive an additional $1 million in oil and gas tax distributions over the next three months.

Each city reached higher levels of oil industry- related employment, making them eligible for the funding, according to a press release.

Dickinson was previously eligible for $500,000 a year, but current levels qualify them for $1 million per year.

Mayor Dennis Johnson said the extra $500,000 is a “good deal for Dickinson.”

“This is money that we could use to help fund some additional positions in the city and some pay increases to help stay a little more competitive with the energy industry,” Johnson said. “It’s very good in that respect, very timely that we qualified for it.”

Minot has qualified for the first time and will receive $500,000 per fiscal year, according to the release.

Because of the timing of each city’s qualification, both cities will receive $500,000 in July to bring them to the appropriate levels for the fiscal year. With the beginning of the new fiscal year’s distributions in September, Dickinson will receive the full $1 million and Minot will receive $500,000.

“As far as I understand it, the state legislature didn’t put any restrictions on how that money can be used,” Johnson said.

Press reporter Ashley Martin contributed to this story

Tags: tax revenue, oil, news, money, dickinson, taxes, energy