Jonathan Warrey

As a COO of Marco I have helped operate a 1300 employee technology services company providing solutions for regional organizations and providing career opportunities for our employees. As a volunteer I have served on non-profit boards focusing on economic development, financial literacy for our students, and eliminating poverty two generations at a time. In elected roles, i have served as the president of a Park Board, and as a member of the ND House of Representatives.

• Workforce development by continuing to develop and retaining North Dakota's employees
  

• Legacy Fund optimization
  

• Continuing to diversify North Dakota's economy--keep energy and agriculture strong, but also leverage technology and the digital economy to optimize our service sectors

Again, workforce development is a challenge and an opportunity. We should continue to leverage programs to develop and keep our workforce--from students to veteran employees. Productive, engaged employees are a key part of growing our economy, which keeps our citizens in the state when they graduate, and invites others from around the country and the world to participate in our economy.

I support some targeted programs that combine existing entities (Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Centers, and the private sector) to drive more employees joining our economy. I don't think we need to create more government entities to deliver these services, but instead should leverage the channels already built.

Where appropriate, I think some incentives can create incremental economic benefit for a community when they attract a new business. We do need fundamental services like grocery stores, and other quality of life businesses that sometimes need some targeted incentives to help get them to a community.

The Legislative body funded a comprehensive study this past session, and I look forward to seeing the recommendations that come from it. The Legislature should use the collective body of expertise and research on housing and childcare, and provide some modest incentives for people to build homes and operate daycares, especially in our lower population areas where these are fundamental quality of life issues.

If it is part of a partnership with other entities, then yes I do. One of government's core functions is providing reliable infrastructure to its citizens, and to do it efficiently. These projects are typically well vetted, and involve local, county, state, and federal government contributions, and that is an efficient way to fund required projects.

As a member of the Legacy Fund Advisory Committee, I have learned a significant amount about the details of how the Legacy Fund is going to help North Dakota in the short term and the long term. Yes, I support using the interest earnings for targeted needs. I also support using industry professions to attain market-based yields for our Legacy Fund. In addition, House Bill 1425 allows North Dakota to take equity positions in companies with ties to North Dakota--which stimulates further capital investment in ND.

I do not. Property Taxes have been an important local fundraising mechanism for political subdivisions since statehood. The fast rising valuations with large increases in spending by political subdivisions have created large increases in property taxes in recent years. Many of our citizens are shocked and want to see changes. I'd support caps on local spending, with some fliexibility for infrastructure needs, but do not want to replace a proven system with something centralized from the State of ND. Having Bismarck dole out revenues may or may not meet the needs of the local political subdivisions, and could threaten many of the services citizens have come to expect.