North Dakota has too much bureaucracy for too few people, says a lawmaker who wants to order 39 of North Dakota's 53 counties to merge their governments.

"North Dakota citizens have too many county officials, in too many county courthouses," said Rep. Dave Weiler, R-Bismarck.

Weiler's proposal drew heated objections during a House Political Subdivisions Committee hearing on Thursday. County officials said they have already undertaken cooperative ventures with neighbors, and said they would resent state-ordered consolidation.

Ronald Krebsbach, a McLean County commissioner and president of the state county commissioners' association, said his county shares a regional library with Mercer County and a social service director with three other counties.

"Shared services, shared staff and shared costs are all a part of joint efforts already being done by counties to offer better, more cost efficient services to our citizens," Krebsbach said.

The committee did not take action on the bill, which will eventually move to the full House for a vote. Its chairman, Rep. Glen Froseth, R-Kenmare, hinted at its fate afterward during a meeting of House Republicans, who have 66 seats to Democrats' 28.

"They made their point that it is an effort to reduce government," Froseth said. "In North Dakota you can bring an issue forth and it can be discussed, the merits of it, in a civil manner … and then we'll kill it."

Weiler's plan would organize 18 pairs of counties into multicounty districts, while a 19th unit would have three counties.

North Dakota's most populous counties would keep their own governments, and counties with large geographic areas, such as McKenzie and Dunn counties in western North Dakota, would be left alone.

Each county unit would inherit each other's assets and debts, equipment and records. Voters in each district would choose their new district's county seat in June 2004. The losing courthouse would close.

The new districts would elect a single county commission, sheriff, state's attorney and other officials.

Weiler said counties cannot claim to have slimmed down since legislation was approved eight years ago to make it easier for them to consolidate their services. Since 1997, the number of county workers has risen by 300, and payrolls have jumped 14.7 percent, he said.

"If we wait for counties to downsize, I fear it many never happen," Weiler said.

Others worry what will happen to the smaller counties in the county pairings.

Susan Ritter, who holds four positions in Renville County, said her county would be in danger if the bill passes.

Under the proposal, Renville County would share services with Bottineau County, which is much larger. Renville has about 1,800 residents, while Bottineau has 5,500.

"There's no question where the courthouse would be," she said.

Without the courthouse in Mohall, businesses would go under, Ritter said. People who visit there also pick up groceries and other supplies, she said.

"They don't just do one thing in town," she said. "They bring a list."

Krebsbach also argued that merging counties would shift the property tax burden from one group of residents to another.