Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #19
Revenue Forecast and Township Roads

The morning started out early with a joint hearing of both Appropriations committees listening to Moody’s look ahead at what is in store for dollars coming into our state. The word is that it will remain much the same as previously expected with a slight touch of decline. Nothing major. The other entity retained to look into the crystal ball is Standard and Poors which will give their outlook tomorrow morning.

One of the premier infrastructure research institutions in the country resides here in North Dakota. It is the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI). Today it was referenced constantly in testimony. Two bills in House Finance and Tax took most of this morning; Senate Majority Leader Hogue discussed SB 2367, a bill that would put more money ($170 million) into the buckets ahead of the county, city, townships and airport infrastructure bucket. This would serve to delay the filling of our roads and bridges bucket so many got up to testify against, including the North Dakota Transportation Coalition (of which we are a charter member), townships, counties, etc. We asked them to perhaps move half of that $170 million into our bucket so it would fill sooner and with more certainty. Money is not distributed until the bucket fills. If it fills.

 
The other was Senator Wanzek’s SB 2329 which would give counties and townships 25% (it had been 50%) of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax. This would amount to about $84 million of the $10 billion that UGPTI says we need in road and bridge investment over the next 20 years. We thank Senator Wanzek and others who are attempting to find a way to adequately fund our rural roads and bridges. While a township can levy $18 million without a special vote, it is possible to levy $36 million and Chairman Headland mentioned that it makes sense to do that (as his township does) to receive money through this bill should it pass.