Farm group opposing oil taxes

BISMARCK (AP) — North Dakota’s Farm Bureau said it will fight a proposed initiative that would require spending oil tax money on wildlife and conservation projects.

The measure would give an appointed nine-member board control over almost $90 million a year. The board would get 5 percent of the state’s oil tax collections.

Farm Bureau President Doyle Johannes said it’s too much money to set aside for wildlife and conservation programs.

He said those efforts already get a lot of state and federal support.

Johannes said the measure would take money away from education and property tax relief.

He said the board could take land out of private ownership.

Ducks Unlimited regional director Steve Adair is the campaign’s chairman. He said it would provide farmers voluntary incentives for land conservation.

Tags: news, energy, taxes, wildlife