1Q Projections Off By $1B

Through the first quarter of fiscal 2010, California general fund revenue was more than $1 billion below projections, according to state Controller John Chiang’s monthly cash report released Friday.

The state’s three largest sources of revenue were all below estimates made in connection with a revised budget adopted in July, the controller reported.

September personal income tax revenues recorded the poorest performance, down more than 17% below projections.

For the first three months of the fiscal year, general fund revenue was down by $1.1 billion compared to the estimates in the July budget.

“Revenues more than $1 billion under estimates and recent adverse court rulings are dealing a major blow to a budget that is barely 10-weeks old,” Chiang said in a news release. “While there are encouraging signs that California’s economy is preparing for a comeback, the recession continues to drag state revenues down.  I urge lawmakers and the governor to prepare for more difficult decisions ahead.”

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