North Dakota governor doesn't want to reopen deal for oil taxes

Tuesday, January 11, 2011  

North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R) doesn't think the state has to renegotiate an oil tax agreement with the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

The state shares oil tax revenue with the tribe for development on the Fort Berhold Reservation. Since July 2008, the state has collected $43.7 million and the tribe has received $19.1 million.

Chairman Tex Hall said the money isn't enough to address impacts of development on the reservation. He called on the state to revisit the agreement during a speech to the Legislature last week.

But Dalrymple hopes to resolve any differences without redoing the agreement. He said his new budget includes money for road construction.

"We kind of left it that we would study the entire picture with them, we would show them what we can do, we would talk about a plan to get some more federal funds, and then we would see whether we need to talk about the tax agreement or not," Dalrymple told the Associated Press.

Former chairman Marcus Levings and former governor John Hoeven signed a two-year extension of the agreement on January 15, according to a press release from the tribe.

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ND Gov Dalrymple hopes to avoid reopening tribal oil revenue agreement (AP 1/11)