MINOT — The controversy over bonuses for employees in North Dakota's Retirement and Investment Office took a weird turn this week, with the RIO seeking authorization for the payouts from the state's Emergency Commission.

“The agency believes it has continuing appropriation authority to pay the incentive compensation. However, we are bringing the request for funding to the Emergency Commission to address the concern,” RIO Executive Director Jodi Smith told the Bismarck Tribune, referring to worries expressed at a recent meeting of the State Investment Board (which oversees the RIO) that the bonuses might not be legal.

The bonuses have been justified as rewarding performance for in-house investment managers. Previously, the state contracted with outside investors, but state lawmakers a

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