Burgum unveils record $18.4B proposed state budget

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has unveiled a proposed $18.4 billion budget that increases state spending by more than 3%. The governor’s blueprint includes $3 billion in infrastructure funding, and increases workforce development funding and public employee salaries. The second-term Republican governor’s budget is the biggest proposed by a governor in state history. He presented his plan during an 80-minute speech to a joint session of the House and Senate Wednesday (Dec. 7, 2022). Republican and Democratic leaders in the Legislature said they supported Burgum’s general themes, including a boost state worker salaries, and increases on education, and infrastructure projects.