Opinion ID: 2117122
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: DeSmet National Guard Armory

Text: As explained earlier, the 1992 funding for the DeSmet National Guard Armory was first introduced as a special appropriation bill. That bill was killed and the appropriation was placed in the General Appropriation Bill by adding the funds to the appropriations for the division of military and veterans affairs. Respondents argue that because the legislature in 1985 and 1989 appropriated funds by a two-thirds vote for the construction of national guard armories and additions, a two-thirds vote of the legislature was not necessary to pass this appropriation in 1992. We disagree. We held in Jorgenson that: Cost of land acquisitions, erection of permanent buildings and similar capital expenditures cannot be considered current expenses. Jorgenson, 136 N.W.2d at 875 (emphasis added). Thus, we conclude that this appropriation was not an ordinary expense of state government and therefore, had to be passed by a two-thirds vote of each house of the legislature.