State 5 for 6 in Revenue Dips

Arkansas general revenue collections fell in May for the fifth time in the past six months, but not by enough to require cuts in agency budgets.

Revenue totaled $382.6 million during the month, some $3 million less than collected in May 2008 and $1.6 million less than expected, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said in its monthly report.

Net general revenue for the first 11 months of fiscal 2009 totaled $3.99 billion, which is 1.1% above the forecast but down 1% from collections in fiscal 2008.

Individual income tax collections totaled $173.8 million in May, down $11 million from May 2008 and $10.1 million less than expected.

Gross receipts collections, which include sales and use taxes, fell more than 7% from last year to a total of $163.8 million, almost $13 million below the official forecast.

The finance department said sales tax revenue from new-car sales totaled $14.6 million in May, down $4.9 million from May 2008.

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