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N.D. (AP) – Gov. Jack Dalrymple wants lawmakers to approve new employees for law enforcement and regulatory agencies. He says most of the jobs are needed because of the expansion of North Dakota’s oil production.

Dalrymple presented the Legislature with a $15.7 billion proposed budget for state government over the next two years.

Dalrymple is asking for $90.5 million for state and local law enforcement agencies, including 19 new positions at the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and four new Highway Patrol troopers. 

North Dakota’s Department of Mineral Resources would get 22 new jobs, including petroleum engineers and inspectors. 

The Health Department would get 19 more staffers to check for environmental violations. And the state Public Service Commission would get eight new employees to monitor pipelines and railroads carrying crude oil.

Meanwhile, officials in North Dakota’s oil patch welcomed Governor Jack Dalrymple’s state budget recommendations Wednesday.

Dalrymple’s proposed budget would bring the state’s oil producing areas $3.7 billion in the next biennium. His plan includes a 60-40 split of oil tax revenues between governments of oil producing areas and the state. It also calls for $873 million in surge funding to address immediate infrastructure needs.

Williston Mayor Howard Klug says Dalrymple’s plan shows that he listened to oil producing cities and counties.

Watford City Mayor Brent Sanford says he feels the rest of the state recognizes that North Dakota’s revenue is coming from the oil patch and that they have to take care of the infrastructure needs there.

The legislature will look at the proposal in the upcoming session which begins in January.