North Dakota government s largest leased office space largely vacant as employees opt for remote work
North Dakota taxpayers will have to foot the bill for close to $3 million for the North Dakota Information Technology Department s 85,000-square-foot north Bismarck office building over the next two years. Written By: Adam Willis | ×
The North Dakota Information Technology Department rents an 85,000-square-foot office building in north Bismarck. Adam Willis / The Forum
BISMARCK The largest privately-owned office space leased by the North Dakota state government has been mostly vacant over the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and could stay that way as the department housed in the building has allowed its employees the indefinite option to work remotely.
Among them is a former official in Gov. Doug Burgum s Cabinet.
Sen. Curt Kreun, R-Grand Forks, introduced Senate Bill 2322 on Monday to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill would reimburse state employee claims for wrongful criminal investigation or prosecution related to their work in the last two years and going forward. Reimbursement would apply if a criminal probe did not result in a conviction. We were all an audience to a situation that necessitated this legislation, Kreun said, referring to the audit of the state s Commerce Department being referred for criminal investigation but resulting in no charges.
The bill would reimburse former Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer and former Commerce Senior Manager Holly Holt, as well as three North Dakota State College of Science leaders, including President John Richman. Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, is a bill co-sponsor and has criticized how State Auditor Josh Gallion handled those audit findings.
$95M for Continuing Pandemic Response in North Dakota?
The money for pandemic budget items includes $54.5 million in general funds, $35.5 million in federal funds and $5 million from the Community Health Trust Fund, funded through a legal settlement with tobacco companies. by Jack Dura, The Bismarck Tribune, N.D. / January 19, 2021 AP
(TNS) - Jan. 18 State health officials COVID-19 response is the biggest item in the new two-year budget blueprint for North Dakota s Health Department.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday heard the department s $260 million budget plan. Senate Bill 2004 includes more than $95 million for continuing the state s pandemic response, or 36% of the budget, the biggest piece. The COVID-19 items are budgeted for the entire 2021-23 budget cycle, which begins July 1.
North Dakota Health Department proposes $95M for continuing pandemic response bismarcktribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bismarcktribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.