Tax collections fall in fourth straight month

State tax collections in November fell below budgeted estimates for the fourth consecutive month of the fiscal year, but did slightly better than in October.
Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz said Monday that state revenue collections for November were $708 million, or $13.5 million less than estimated. The general fund was undercollected by $8.1 million.
Though still negative, Goetz said franchise and excise taxes combined for November were $42 million, which is $11.6 million above the budgeted estimate of $30.7 million.
Also on Monday, the State Funding Board heard economists’ revenue projections for the remainder of this year and next year. The board plans to issue a final revenue report on Thursday based on those estimates.