BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple has presented the Legislature with a $13.7 billion proposed budget for the next two years.
The Republican governor offered his blueprint to a joint session of North Dakota's House and Senate on Wednesday. Dalrymple's spending plan is $2 billion less than what he proposed two years ago. That budget eventually was whittled down to $14.4 billion for the current budget cycle due to depressed oil and crop prices.
Dalrymple has been North Dakota's top executive since 2010 but he leaves office in a week.
Dalrymple's suggested budget almost certainly will be reshaped by Republican Governor-elect Doug Burgum, who has been working on his yet-to-be-disclosed spending priorities.
Burgum is slated to release his spending plan when the Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 3.