Gov. Doug Burgum is hearing criticism for his use of state airplanes while state Auditor Josh Gallion conducts a performance audit focused on travel-related expenditures by Burgum's office. Gallion said the examination should be done in a few months.
We're not yet sure what the audit will find, so we'll speak on that later.
For now, here's something else: The governor is spending his own money to make some trips on behalf of the state. Not many people know it, and the governor isn't necessarily trumpeting it, either.
This week, Burgum visited with the Herald's editorial board. Deep in the discussion, he mentioned trips he has made to the White House to participate in several important conferences. He said he often pays out of his own pocket.
The Herald subsequently asked for specifics from the governor's staff and learned Burgum himself paid for trips to Washington four times in 2017, including the president's inauguration and various meetings; a National Governors Association meeting; an infrastructure meeting with the president; and meetings with the interior secretary and ag secretary.
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In 2018, Burgum has paid for two Washington trips: One for the National Governors Association and another to meet with the president on ag and trade issues.
He also personally paid for a trip to Arizona to attend a meeting for the Western Governors Association, and another trip to Connecticut for a change-of-command ceremony for the USS North Dakota.
Why is the governor paying for these trips himself?
Because his office travel budget is just $55,000 for two years, and it's to cover 18 people. This budget is separate from the state airplane budget that is getting all of the headlines lately.
So far, he's on track to make his budget; he told the Herald he's $247 under his budget for the year. A Washington trip would skew the numbers, so he pays out of his own pocket.
"They don't call three months in advance to say, 'Hey, we're having a conference,'" he said. "They call on a Monday and say they're having 10 senators from Plains states and the governors of Nebraska and Iowa and ask if I want to be there. Absolutely I want to have a voice at that meeting if we're talking about trade and agriculture, so I go."
Today, we're not discussing state airplanes, but simply the governor's travel budget.
Burgum declines a paycheck as governor. He is active and gaining influence, evidenced by his repeated invitations to Washington.
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Burgum has personal wealth, but that doesn't matter - he shouldn't have to pay out of his own pocket for travel that involves state interests, even in these times of budget cuts and belt-tightening. The governor's travel budget should be increased to better acknowledge an energetic governor who keeps an active schedule on the state's behalf.
Until it is increased, we regret - and yet appreciate - that he is personally paying the bill when he deems a trip important to North Dakota.
