Budgeting and Appropriations | Biennial enactment of one 24-month budget; fiscal year begins July 1. NDDOT presents a budget request to the Legislative Assembly that may be modified. The Legislative Assembly approves the budget at the agency level. |
Bonding or Pay-as-You-Go | The state uses pay-as-you-go financing. |
State-Level Funding Provided for DOT Budgets | 2009 to 2011 biennium: $280.5 million |
Allocation of Federal Transportation Funds to the DOT | Federal transportation funds are allocated to NDDOT as a lump sum at the agency level. NDDOT receives a lump sum legislative appropriation from all funding sources for roadway construction projects. Appropriations do not include funding for specific projects. |
Allocation of State Transportation Funds to the DOT | State transportation funds also are allocated to NDDOT as a lump sum legislative appropriation at the agency level. |
Traditional State Funding and Finance for Highways | Fuel taxes; motor vehicle/rental car sales taxes; vehicle registration/license/title fees; truck weight fees; general funds; interest income. |
State Funding and Finance for Other Modes | Transit: General funds; vehicle registration/license/title fees; net unobligated balance. Aviation: Aircraft registration fees; aircraft excise tax; aircraft fuel tax. Bridges: Included with highways. |
Innovative Transportation Funding and Finance | GARVEE bonds; state infrastructure bank (federally capitalized); PPPs (authorized in statute, used for at least one project); design-build (authorized in statute for two pilot projects). |
Dedicated/Restricted State Funds and Revenues | The state constitution restricts the use of revenues from motor fuel taxes and motor vehicle registration fees and license taxes to public highways (N.D. Const. art. X, §11). All transportation-related revenue received by NDDOT is deposited into the State Highway Fund (N.D. Cent. Code §24- 02-41), which is used for NDDOT projects and administration. State Highway Fund priorities are set forth in statute (N.D. Cent. Code §24-02-37). Revenues dedicated to aviation must be used for airport projects approved by the Aeronautics Commission (N.D. Cent. Code §57-43.3-06 and §57- 40.5-09). |
DOT Authorized to Retain Surplus Funds | Yes. However, NDDOT must receive legislative appropriations to spend any funds from state or federal sources. Though any funding that is not spent by the end of the biennial budget cycle is retained by NDDOT, it must be reappropriated to be spent in a subsequent biennium. NDDOT may seek legislative approval to spend any additional funds received that are above the biennial budget appropriation. |
Legislative Approval Required to Move Funds Between Projects | No legislative approval is required. |
Transportation Funding Allocations through Local Aid | A highway tax distribution fund is used to allocate state funding to counties and cities. The state treasurer allocates the funds by statutory formula based on number of vehicles registered and population (N.D. Cent. Code § 54-27-19). The funds are subject to constitutional restrictions on the use of revenue from motor fuel taxes and motor vehicle registration fees and license taxes (N.D. Const. art. X, §11). A township highway aid fund is used to distribute funds to eligible townships. To receive any funds, townships must provide 50 percent matching funds. The state treasurer allocates these funds by statutory formula based on road miles. Funds must used for highway and bridge purposes (N.D. Cent. Code §54-27-19.1). NDDOT has discretion over how to allocate federal funds. |