Link: Minot Daily News.
Minot area legislators aren’t the only ones disappointed in the actions of the House Appropriations Committee this week. The committee slashed a pair of requests for money for the North Dakota State Fair. An original appropriation of $5 million to help fund a new grandstand was completely eliminated, while a request for money to make blacktop repairs was reduced to less than half the original amount, down to $265,000. The fight for the money – especially the grandstand funding – certainly isn’t over yet. This was but one step in the process, albeit an important step. Area lawmakers such as Rep. Larry Bellew, R-Minot, were not happy with the decisions, but also know that there are more chances to get the funding reinstated. The grandstand funding will certainly be addressed in the Senate, and if that fails, the issue could go into a conference committee. Needless to say, we’re disappointed the funding for the grandstand project was completely stripped by the House Appropriations Committee. We fully expect our area legislators to get that funding restored before the session ends. It is, after all, the North Dakota State Fair, so improvements such as a new grandstand and improved parking lots should be paid for with state money.
