Burgum presents blueprint for spending federal COVID funds

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Gov. Doug Burgum has outlined recommendations to legislators for how to spend some $1 billion in federal aid North Dakota received this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Burgum’s blueprint recommends legislators spend most of it quickly on infrastructure, economic development and other projects to avoid inflation and rising construction costs. Burgum also recommended using a portion of the state’s better-than-expected ending fund balance of $1.1 billion for income tax relief and to bolster the state’s troubled pension fund. The Legislature controls spending on state government and will eventually decide where the money goes.