Delays and production problems related to a new computer system for state lawmakers, a $5.7 million overhaul, has been delayed. That means the Legislators will be using the same system that they did in 2007, which is based on hardware and software that’s nearly 40 years old. The company involved in the overhaul is PTC Corp., of Needham, Mass.

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North Dakota’s estimated budget surplus, for June 30, 2009, has reached $1.2 billion. Components are $453.9 million in the general fund and $622.9 million in surplus oil tax collections.

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Ballot measure that may be on the General Election ballot in North Dakota in November include:

Measure 1: Establishes a permanent trust fund for North Dakota oil tax collections, and bars the Legislature from spending any of the fund’s principal balance unless three-fourths of the members of the North Dakota House and Senate agree.

Measure 2: Reduces North Dakota’s individual income tax rates by 50 percent, and its corporate income tax rates by 15 percent.

Measure 3: Sets aside more than $9 million annual from a North Dakota lawsuit settlement against tobacco companies to pay for programs that discourage tobacco use.

Measure 4: Gives the governor the authority to hire North Dakota’s workers compensation director; extends civil service protection to employees of Workforce Safety and Insurance, requires WSI to use independent administrative law judges to handle benefi t appeals from injured workers; and stipulates that the agency may not change judges’ decisions.

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The pre-session, when the ND Legislature organizes, will be held in Chambers Dec. 1-3. The regular session will begin Tuesday, Jan. 6.