N.D. Lawmakers Put Dibs on Leftover School Funds

A state budget surplus is usually good news. But in North Dakota, where lawmakers are debating how to spend $3.8 million of leftover education funds, no one is celebrating yet.

The money came from overestimates of student enrollment, which did not meet the forecasts set by state officials. In fact, enrollment this year dropped throughout the state, creating a much larger surplus than normal.

While the Republican-controlled House education committee originally recommended that the money be distributed to schools right away in form of per-student aid, others are pushing to hold on to it until the next two-year budget cycle,...