701-566-9300The Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency (sometimes referred to as the “North Dakota DOGE”) held its initial meeting on July 30 and followed its agenda closely. The categories or members are specified in the new statute. All members attended either in person or remotely via video. The Committee’s studies and assignments capture a broad mandate including, but not limited to: receiving testimony from and collaborating with executive branch agencies and the Supreme Court to identify areas to increase efficiency and methods to implement cost-saving measures; determine areas of state government deemed unnecessary or duplicative; target outdated or overly restrictive regulations; and to prepare a report to Legislative Management.
The state budget has swelled enormously from $19.6 billion in the 2023-2025 biennium to $20.3 billion in the 2025-2027 biennium (including federal funds and not all of this comes from state tax revenues). As taxpayers, the public’s interests likely closely align with the Committee’s role and responsibilities of, among other things, reducing state spending.
This Committee’s work will inevitably include agricultural and rural interests. Nonetheless, when the Committee makes its final report and recommendations before the next legislative session, there is the possibility of impacts on these interests, including reductions. For instance, agricultural and rural interests are all impacted by the budgets of the Department of Agriculture (ag programming and ag processing incentives); North Dakota Department of Transportation (roads and bridges); Department of Water Resources (water conveyance); Higher Education (NDSU research facilities and programs); Department of Commerce (rural programs and incentives); Game and Fish, and so forth. The intersection of our interests and many state agencies is very critical and frequent.
At the beginning and throughout the meeting, the Committee explained the purposes and scope and shared requirements, expectations, and goals. The Committee stressed that it is not looking just at savings but also improved efficiencies and outcomes. It will be reviewing organizational structures and whether they make sense. The Committee further wants to reinforce a culture of continuous improvement. It intends for the agencies to reduce redundancies and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse, and anticipates agencies will make better use of reports to identify these opportunities. The Committee noted the process is a complex and sophisticated review.
The Committee started its review and discussions with the Department of Health and Human Services (which is the largest state budget), the Department of Commerce Department and the Information Technology Department. The discussions were very professional and detailed, and not reportable in this format. These agencies acknowledged the Committee’s concerns about transparency and accountability.
The Committee expressed urgency in its work, and the next meeting is anticipated to occur sometime in August.