The Budget Spin Machine

Are state officials distorting the realities of North Dakota's budget situation?

It should not come as a surprise that many in North Dakota's state government (both elected and appointed) want to minimize the long term realities of the continued oil price decline. However, it is important to realize that there is a spin machine in North Dakota just as everywhere else - and that many are playing the C.Y.A. game today.

Yesterday, it was announced that taxable sales in the 3rd Quarter of 2015 were 25% lower than Q3 of 2014. This was not shocking to anybody, and the 4th Quarter is likely to be even worse.