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North Dakota State Legacy Fund Establishment, Measure 1 (2010)
The North Dakota Legacy Fund Referendum, also known as Constitutional Measure 1, was on the November 2, 2010 ballot in North Dakota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, where it was approved.[1] This measure established a North Dakota legacy fund, provided for deposit of certain oil and gas tax revenues in the fund and imposed limitations on use of moneys in the fund.[2]
Election results
| North Dakota Constitutional Measure 1 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 141,783 | 63.57% | ||
| No | 81,245 | 36.43% | ||
Election results via: North Dakota Secretary of State, Official Vote of General Election, 2010
Text of measure
- See also: North Dakota Constitution, Article X
Ballot title
The language appeared on the ballot as:[3]
| “ | SECTION 1. A new section to article X of the Constitution of North Dakota is created and enacted as follows:
The state investment board shall invest the principal of the North Dakota legacy fund. The state treasurer shall transfer earnings of the North Dakota legacy fund accruing after June 30, 2017, to the state general fund at the end of each biennium. SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. If approved by the voters, this measure becomes effective for oil and gas produced after June 30, 2011. YES – Means you approve the measure as stated above. NO – Means you reject the measure as stated above. [4] |
” |
Constitutional changes
Measure 1 added a new section to Article X of the North Dakota Constitution.
Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.
2. The principal and earnings of the legacy fund may not be expended until after June 30, 2017, and an expenditure of principal after that date requires a vote of a least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the legislative assembly. Not more than fifteen percent of the principal of the legacy fund may be expended during a biennium.
3. Statutory programs, in existence as a result of legislation enacted through 2009, providing for impact grants, direct revenue allocations to political subdivisions, and deposits in the oil and gas research fund must remain in effect but the legislative assembly may adjust statutory allocations for those purposes.
The state investment board shall invest the principal of the North Dakota legacy fund. The state treasurer shall transfer earnings of the North Dakota legacy fund accruing after June 30, 2017, to the state general fund at the end of each biennium.[4]
Background
For the second time since 2008, North Dakotans saw a measure on the ballot to create a state legacy fund. The 2008 question involving the creation of a oil tax trust fund failed on a 2 to 1 margin.
The 2010 Legacy Fund measure called for 30 percent of the state's oil revenues to be deposited into the fund, if the measure was approved by the voters. Money that was deposited into the Legacy Fund could not be withdrawn until 2017. In order to withdraw funds, the Legislature was required to approve the withdrawal with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. This could not happen after 2017. The state was only allowed to spend $15 million at one time if the withdrawal was approved by the Legislature[5].
The difference between the 2008 Oil Tax Trust Fund and 2010 Legacy Fund measures was that the state treasurer was given full authority to determine the amount of money to be deposited into the fund if the 2008 measure was approved[6]. The 2010 measure has a fixed requirement of 30 percent.
Both of the measures considered in 2008 and 2010 were amendments to the North Dakota Constitution passed by the Legislature.
Support
The proposed measure was supported by a coalition of state officials, the North Dakota Farm Bureau and the North Dakota Education Association, according to reports.[7] The measure also received support from state farm, teacher and business groups.[8]
Arguments
- In an editorial Eric Aasmundstad, the president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, said, "Measure 1 on the ballot will create a North Dakota Legacy Fund utilizing the oil and gas taxes that are accumulating at record levels...It makes sense to save some of the oil money, put it to work in sound investments and let the fund grow for future generations...And now is the right time to do it, without raising taxes or creating a new tax."[9]
- "This is a once-in-a-lifetime happening. We have a chance to be proactive, progressive, get money in this fund and provide for our children and grandchildren forever," said state Sen. Arden C. Anderson.[7]
- NDEA president Dakota Draper said, "What we really want to do is try and make North Dakota a better place, and I think this Measure One will do that well into the future. But my worry is that voters are in such an anti-mood about everything they’ll just look at Measure One and click the ‘no’ box without thinking about it, and what an opportunity they’ll be missing if they do that."[7]
Opposition
The North Dakota Farmers Union opposed Measure 1. According to the organization's president Robert Carlson members were opposed to the measure because they felt money should be spent on infrastructure in areas negatively affected by the "oil boom." Additionally, Carlson noted that the measure was poorly timed and the state needed to focus on needed improvements before thinking of creating a savings fund. Improved infrastructure, he said, could attract more people to the state.[10]
Other perspectives
In a legal opinion requested by Rep. Kari Conrad, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said that the amendment could affect the amount of funds other oil tax recipients receive but would not change spending formulas already in place. Specifically, the amendment would take 30% of the total collections of both the extraction tax and production tax.[11]
"It is premature to speculate on what changes may ultimately be made to the statutory programs and (oil tax) allocations, as well as to the general fund," said Stenehjem. In an interview with the Associated Press, he said that there was nothing in the measure that would make things inconsistent or unworkable.[11]
Media editorial positions
Support
- The Bismark Tribune supported Measure 1. In an editorial, the board said, "There are those who wish to spend now, investing in the future. Unfortunately, that path leads to spending patterns that require more and more revenue, to the point that the state might not be able to sustain the spending without increasing taxes. The case for a "yes" vote on Measure 1 is that it's better to save for the future."[12]
- The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead supported Measure 1. "The Legacy Fund is an excellent mechanism to ensure wise management of the state’s oil and gas wealth. It will lend stability to funds generated by an industry that is notoriously unstable...The fund’s 'legacy' is a brighter economic picture for future generations. It’s smart management of natural resource dollars. North Dakotans should vote 'yes' for Measure 1," said the editorial board.[13]
- The Grand Forks Herald supported Measure 1. They say, "Alaskans get checks each year thanks to their Alaska Permanent Fund. Wyoming likewise sets mineral-tax money aside; as a result (and among other good works), the state’s generous Hathaway Scholarship program now helps Wyoming students attend the state’s colleges and universities. North Dakotans now have their own chance to set up such a historic fund. Vote yes on Measure 1."[14]
- The Jamestown Sun supported Measure 1. They say, "The Legacy Fund is an excellent mechanism to ensure wise management of the state’s oil and gas wealth. It will lend stability to funds generated by an industry that is notoriously unstable. The fund can be a major factor in ensuring stability to sources of support for vital state programs...The fund’s 'legacy' is a brighter economic picture for future generations. It’s smart management of natural resource dollars."[15]
Opposition
There was no known opposition to Measure 1 from editorial boards.
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the North Dakota Constitution
According to the North Dakota Constitution an amendment proposed by either the House or the Senate required only majority approval. Constitutional Measure 1 was placed on the ballot by action of the 2009 North Dakota Legislative Assembly with the passage of House Concurrent Resolution No. 3054 (2009 Session Laws, Ch. 641).[16]
Similar measures
North Dakota Oil Tax Trust Fund, Measure 1 (2008)
See also
- North Dakota 2010 ballot measures
- 2010 ballot measures
- List of North Dakota ballot measures
- History of Initiative & Referendum in North Dakota
Articles
External links
Additional reading
- The Grand Forks Herald, "Supporters of locking up some N.D. oil money cross party lines, ideology," October 6, 2010
- The Bismark Tribune, "Voters to decide on two measures," September 12, 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State Archived Election Results, "General Election Results - 2010," accessed April 1, 2014
- ↑ North Dakota Legislative Assembly, "CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT APPROVED," accessed April 1, 2014
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "Ballot Language Measure 1," accessed April 1, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ KXNet, "Measure One," September 28, 2010
- ↑ North Dakota Legislature, "House Concurrent Resolution 3045 (2008)"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The Forum, "North Dakota coalition lobbies for Legacy Fund," September 18, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ Associated Press, "Farm, teacher groups promote ND oil savings fund," September 28, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ AGWeek, "ND measure is a plan to save for the future," August 31, 2010
- ↑ Minot Daily News, "Groups take opposing positions on Legacy Fund," October 23, 2010
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Associated Press, "ND AG says oil amendment would affect spending," September 21, 2010
- ↑ The Bismark Tribune, "North Dakota should pass Measures 1, 2," October 10, 2010
- ↑ The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, "Forum editorials: Vote ‘yes’ on Measure 1; ‘no’ on Measure 2," October 26, 2010
- ↑ Grand Forks Herald, "Vote yes on N.D.’s Measure 1," October 27, 2010
- ↑ Jamestown Sun, "‘Yes’ on Measure 1, ‘No’ on Measure 2," October 28, 2010
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "ANALYSIS OF THE STATEWIDE MEASURES APPEARING ON THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT NOVEMBER 2, 2010," accessed April 1, 2014
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