Kansas general fund revenue of $224 million was $11.5 million less than expected in February, the Department of Revenue said last week, putting collections $6.3 million below projections so far in fiscal 2011.
Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan said collections in the first eight months of fiscal 2011 were $3.4 billion, which is $343.3 million more than the same period of fiscal 2010. Jordan said most of the increase is the result of the 1% increase in the state sales tax rate in July 2010. Sales and income taxes account for $1.9 billion of fiscal 2011 revenue.
Total collections in fiscal 2011 are $6.4 million less than expected in the latest revenue estimate.
The Revenue Department said the state must collect $2 billion in the last four months of fiscal 2011 to meet projections.
Kansas delayed $102.5 million of March 1 payments for several days for cash-flow purposes, the third consecutive month it had done so. The state said it delayed $92.2 million of aid to 298 local school districts, half of the amount that was due, and $10.3 million to the Kansas Bioscience Authority.
Without the delay, officials said, the state would have been unable to make the monthly payroll.
Revenues in the first part of the calendar year do not match expenditures, the officials said, requiring delays in payments of up to a week or more.
