There is quite a mix of tiny to small to midsize business in the ND oil industry, plus a multitude of small business selling support from stuff as basic as selling steel, grading and gravel, etc.
I don't think we really want oil company run schools. The companies need to pay a wage high enough to find the people they need. The taxes collected have been going up, both from direct oil severance tax, as well as the taxes paid by the additional people. The state needs to continue to use those funds for the infrastructure of the state.
Granted, it is difficult in a fast boom situation. The people coming in tend to expect some difficult conditions, such as living in a temporary man-camp, school classes in temporary trailers, overpriced propane, etc. It is the reason they get a high-wage to show up.
I don’t think we really want oil company run schools.”..
I never suggested that the oil companies should run the schools. With the amount of earnings, they can pay for them without any ties to running them. The government makes the tax payers do that all the time.