State revenue report shows improvement in September

The Missouri Office of Administration released its September general revenue report, which shows that both fiscal year-to-date and September net general revenue numbers have improved.

The fiscal year-to-date general revenue has increased by 2.6 percent up to $1.75 billion in fiscal year 2011, compared to $1.71 billion in fiscal year 2010, according to an Office of Administration news release.

Collections for September were $707.7 million, a 9.1 percent increase from September 2009 revenue collections of $648.7 million.

The Missouri Budget Project applauded the results but was still critical.

"Missouri net general revenue has grown for two consecutive quarters now, which is good news for the state and one indicator that the state may be starting to recover from the recession," Tom Kruckemeyer, chief economist for the Missouri Budget Project, said in a news release. "However, although a substantial improvement, the numbers remain historically weak."

The budget still has a long hike ahead of it, he said, noting the general revenue dropped by 9.1 percent in fiscal year 2010 and by 6.9 percent in fiscal year 2009.

“Missouri’s budget has been cut to the bone," said Amy Blouin, executive director of the Missouri Budget Project. "Critical services including education, health services and transportation  – that benefit all Missourians and which provide the foundation upon which the economy can grow-  have been depleted.”

In the August report from the Office of Administration, Missouri's net general revenue collections were down 1.4 percent two months into fiscal 2011, and the August collections showed a 0.8 percent rise from August 2009, according to Springfield Business Journal coverage.

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