Pennsylvania's income running behind- More draconian budget cuts ahead!

Gov. Tom Corbett's budget secretary, Charles Zogby, predicted two weeks ago the state would fall $500 million short in revenue by the end of the fiscal year -- six months from now. But the latest figures show the state at $486.8 million below forecasts at the end of 2011.

"The bottom line is that this fiscal year, the economy has simply been much bumpier than anticipated," Revenue Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Brassell said.

The $2.3 billion collected in December is nearly 6 percent below expectations, the state Department of Revenue announced on Tuesday. Zogby, in his mid-year budget briefing on Dec. 20, predicted the shortfall would require the state to freeze some spending this year and could require $750 million in cuts in budget next year.

Zogby plans to announce soon which spending will be frozen, spokeswoman Susan Hooper said.


Read more: Pennsylvania's income running behind - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/state/s_774879.html#ixzz1iUw0FxQO