An audience member asked if an oft-repeated statement is true: "Education is the economic engine that drives the state of North Dakota."

"Yes," Sen. Randy Christmann responded. He then added with emphasis that it is "a very, very high fuel consumer."

That financial assessment was one of many at the North Dakota Public Policy Institute meeting on Saturday at the Ramkota, attended by about 75 citizens, including about a half-dozen legislators.

The opening sessions focused on property taxes and education, while afternoon session looked at transparency in government, economic development, taxpayer-funded lobbying and extraterritorial zoning.

Panelists and audience members weren't shy in expression opinions. Citizen apathy, arrogant and non-listening or responsive officials, and educational largesse were the focus.

That didn't surprise moderator Robert Harms, one of the event planners.

"That (passionate interest) is the sentiment that is out there," Harms said. "Our state is doing well, and we should be happy about that. But, in public policy, there is a fair amount of sentiment or unhappiness about where we are going ¦ property taxes, as an example."

The daylong event, sponsored by Citizens for Responsible Government, North Dakota Policy Council, North Dakota Taxpayers Association, North Dakota Hospitality Association, Landowners Association of North Dakota and Sayanythingblog, was the first of what is hoped to be an annual event where the public can comment on state policy - and public comment was plentiful Saturday.

"We are getting more administrators, and not a better education for students," said David Wolfer of Bismarck. Concerning property taxes, he said: "If they over-collect, they should return it to the taxpayers. There is no obligation to spend it. They lead by their agenda because they don't understand what we want. We can't just keep spending, as we might not keep earning."

Education discussions were direct.

"Government is proposing lots of projects that compete with the private enterprise, and that's called socialism," said Lynn Bergman, an engineer and president of DuraCement LLC. "We have been getting reckless in our spending."

A general theme emerged suggesting money will not guarantee performance, and that North Dakota needs to get back to basics.

"If parents and kids are not motivated, we are wasting our time, as we will not spend our way into prosperity," said Terry Bjerke, a Grand Forks City Council member. He also suggested that a significant portion of the soon-to-begin legislative session would be about money, demonstrating that belief by holding up a thick binder from Grand Forks, given to its legislators, explaining what it wanted in enhancements.

And higher education didn't escape scrutiny.

Robert Wetsch, a financial adviser, complained about the duplication of educational areas at state colleges and universities. "There is no responsibility throughout the system to the taxpayer," he said. "Someone along the way has to ask some fiscally responsible questions."

Christmann said a bigger problem than growing spending in high education is offering the right programs so that students can get jobs. "It is clear why young people leave the state," he said. "It's because we are educating people for something they don't have jobs for here."

Funding to students, rather than universities - setting up a market-driven and "vastly improved" educational system - was suggested by Rod Backman, a consultant, CPA and former director of the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget.

Citizen apathy was another reoccurring theme.

"We need to take the cities back. Soon, we will have cat and gecko parks, as we are already past dog parks," Bjerke said. "They (elected officials) won't go away; we have to remove them and get elected."

Paul Quist of the Bismarck Park Board said few people show up to meetings other than advocacy groups. And Steve Marquardt of the Bismarck School Board said more information requests are about the calendar, for things like vacation planning, rather than for the budget and how money is spent.