BISMARCK — Two revenue forecasts due next week will give North Dakota lawmakers a brighter path for budgeting in the session’s second half.
Joint meetings of the House and Senate appropriations committees will hear the Moody’s Analytics forecast on Monday, March 11, then the IHS Markit forecast on Tuesday. Moody’s has long provided forecasts for the state Office of Management and Budget, while lawmakers sought IHS Markit for a second opinion.
Appropriations chairs expressed some optimism for the coming forecasts. House Appropriations chair Rep. Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood, said he expects a small bump for oil production and likely for prices, too, but still a conservative outlook.