North Dakota’s sales tax collections in April were 5.1 percent over the original Legislative revenue forecast from 2019.
Collections were $3.8 million over that forecast, which was adopted before the COVID-19 pandemic.
North Dakota Office of Management and Budget Director Joe Morrissette called that "significant."
"For the biennium to date numbers, in terms of sales tax, we're still slightly below the forecast -- but only by 2 1/2 percent," Morrissette said. "To be only 2 1/2 percent below the original mark, as we see economic recovery and move beyond the pandemic, I think it's a positive story a lot of states wish they could tell."
Through April, the state has collected nearly $1.7 billion in sales tax.
Morrissette said another bright spot in the April report is the motor vehicle excise tax – which was 22.7 percent over the 2019 Legislative forecast. The forecast was $10.6 million, and the actual collections were $13.1 million.
"This is, I believe, the seventh or eighth consecutive month exceeding the original forecast for motor vehicle excise tax," Morrissette said.
For the biennium through April, motor vehicle taxes are 2.7 % ahead of the 2019 forecast.