DICKINSON, ND ( KXNET ) — City leaders in Dickinson say they’re holding off on approving a $2 million request from their university.

Last month, the Dickinson State University (DSU) Heritage Foundation asked the city for $2 million to pay for an expansion project on the campus’s ag building. Ty Orton, who was recently named Acting President at DSU, told Dickinson commissioners the project would be nearly $25 million, and would allow the campus to host around 20 rodeo and horse events a year.

Neighbors argued local taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill.

“Why should the city of Dickinson be putting $2 million when the state has millions of dollars sitting there that they don’t spend?” questioned city resident Dabid Steinback during a public comment period. “I haven’t quite understood why they’ve got all this money sitting in limbo.”

“It has nothing to do with property tax,” stated Mayor Scott Decker. “We dedicate 30% of the one cent every year to economic development, and we put that toward projects.”

City commissioners say they’ll hold off on deciding on the funding request until December.

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