BISMARCK, N.D. (AP Jun 18, 2013) – Revenue streaming into North Dakota’s general fund is $1.6 billion higher than officials estimated and there is still one month left to go in the two-year budget cycle. 
 
      State Budget Director Pam Sharp presented figures to legislators Tuesday. Sharp reported that revenue for the current biennium totaled $4.95 billion through May. That’s up 48 percent from the forecast released by the Office of Management and Budget in April 2011.
 
     The general fund is expected to be left with a $1.7 billion surplus by the end of the month.
 
     Sharp says the difference in numbers was based on nearly three-year-old numbers. She says growth in the past three years has been “phenomenal.”
 
     Some lawmakers expressed frustration that the projected and actual numbers were so different.