BISMARCK -- If North Dakota voters pass initiated measures No. 1 and No. 2, it would hurt the future of the state, not just North Dakota University System's plans for holding tuition steady and granting faculty salary increases, members of the Board of Higher Education said Wednesday.
The board, meeting Wednesday evening in Bismarck, took an official stand opposing both measures.
"We'd have to raise tuition 8 (percent) to 12 percent," President Richie Smith of Wahpeton, N.D., said during the discussion.
If passed, Measure 1 would make much of the state's Permanent Oil Tax Trust Fund off-limits to legislative spending, starting July 1. The principal could be spent only if three-fourths of legislators in both chambers agree.
The trust fund currently exists, fed with much of the state's share of oil production taxes, but there are no restrictions on spending it, and the last two sessions, the Legislature has used it to balance the budget and provide property tax relief.
ADVERTISEMENT
Measure 2 is the proposed state income tax cut of 50 percent for individuals and 15 percent for corporations.
Laura Glatt, the University System's vice chancellor for administrative affairs, figured it would hurt the board's plan for faculty pay increases, cause tuition increases and cancel a planned jump in state grants that help students through college.
