Pennsylvania collected $3.4 billion in General Fund revenue in April, which was $328.3 million, or 8.8 percent, less than anticipated, Secretary of Revenue Daniel Meuser reported Thursday.

Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $23.9 billion, which is $424.5 million, or 1.7 percent, below estimate, without adjusting for last month’s early $80 million liquor profits transfer.

The Independent Fiscal Office Thursday released new revenue estimates which for FY 2013-14 is $608 million less than earlier estimates and for FY 2014-15 is $990 million less than previous IFO estimates resulting in nearly $1.6 billion less revenue than anticipated earlier, according to director Matthew Knittel.

The IFO estimates for FY 2013-14 are $569 million less than the Governor’s estimate and for FY 2014-15 were $778 million less than the Governor’s estimates resulting in a nearly $1.35 billion less revenue than anticipated, according to director Matthew Knittel.

By statute, the office issues an initial revenue estimate by May 1 and an updated revenue estimate by June 15.

Senate Republican Chair of the Appropriations Committee Jake Corman (R-Centre) said on the Senate Floor Wednesday new tax revenues from a natural gas severance tax, taxes smokeless tobacco or other measures will not be enough to fill the gaps.

Sen. Corman said there needs to be changes in the state’s pension systems and Medicaid spending to eliminate automatic growth in the budget.

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5/5/2014