State Legislative Efficiency Task Force Looks to Streamline Government

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(North Dakota Monitor) – The North Dakota Department of Commerce immediately identified a cost saving Wednesday during the first meeting of the state’s DOGE task force – eliminating bonuses paid to employees during the legislative session.

Twenty-nine Commerce employees received pay adjustments totaling $122,000 attributed to increased workload during the session that ended in May. The payments ranged from $550 to $6,600 per person.

Lawmakers questioned the salary adjustments during a June meeting of the Budget Section, with Sen. Sean Cleary, R-Bismarck, pointing out that no other state agencies were listed on a report as awarding extra pay for the legislative session.

Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken, presenting the new Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency, began by announcing his department would discontinue the extra session pay.