There was one significant story almost no one covered this week: Pennsylvania General Fund revenue in September was $144.9 million, or 5.2 percent, less than anticipated.   Fiscal year-to-date is down $218.5 million, or 3.2 percent, below estimate.

It didn’t matter what tax you looked at-- Sales, Personal Income, Corporate taxes, Inheritance and Realty Transfer tax, cigarette, liquor, table games, they were all below estimates for September.

On the up side, only categories above estimates were fuel and other taxes and fees going into the Motor License Fund and the catch-all of “non-tax revenue.”

 Although no one is panicking yet, it does put some pressure on the House and Senate to fill at least one hole left unfilled when they left town in July-- the $100 million or so they are counting on from expanding gaming in the state.

Of course then there’s the problem of the PA Supreme Court decision last week declaring the local host community fees in the Pennsylvania gaming law unconstitutional.

There was a bright spot in gaming, the PA Gaming Control Board Tuesday reported September gross revenue from slot machines at the 12 casinos was $192,150,330, a 2.4 percent increase in revenue when compared to the $187,599,888 generated in September 2015.

On the down side of the roller coaster, the Associated Press reported Thursday Pennsylvania and four other states accounted for half of the estimated $1.2 trillion in state pension funding shortfalls in the United States.

The Senate and House come back in for voting session for 2 weeks starting October 17-- 6 voting days actually-- when they will no doubt deal with these issues as well as pension reform and the epidemic of opioid abuse.

We’ll see what they get done.

NewsClips:

PA Revenue Down $144.9M In Sept., Down $218.5M For Fiscal Year

AP: PA State Tax Collections Lag 3% In First Quarter

PA’s 1st Quarter Revenue Shortfall Could Be Election-Related

Vape Tax Takes Effect As Shops Close, Legislature Mulls Rollback

Vaping Fans Want Crazy Tax Snuffed Out

AP: PA 1 Of 5 States Accounting For Half Of $1.2T Pension Funding Gap

10/10/2016