General Fund surplus tops $45M, analysts say Highway Fund slumps as fuel prices climb

AUGUSTA – Legislative analysts say revenue flowing into the state General Fund exceeded projections by $23.2 million in April, bringing a looming surplus with two months to go in the fiscal year to $45.3 million.

That put the rate of growth in General Fund revenue for the first 10 months of fiscal 2008 at 3.1 percent over the previous year, according to the Legislature’s Office of Fiscal and Program Review.

“This year’s pleasant ‘April surprise’ from individual income tax receipts resulted in a positive variance of $30.6 million in April and $42.7 million” for the fiscal year to date, the new staff analysis said.

“Corporate income tax collections also exceeded projections and were $11 million over budget” for the fiscal year to date, according to the analysis.

The staff analysis noted that “even the sales tax remained over budget” through April.

A $45.3 million surplus through April amounts to 2 percent above projections for the first 10 months of the fiscal year.

The staff analysis, prepared in advance of a Wednesday meeting of the 10 House and Senate members who make up the Legislative Council, said the cigarette tax, estate tax and insurance companies tax remained under budget through April, as did the Other Revenue category.

The new staff analysis was in line with last month’s monthly report by the Office of Fiscal and Program Review.

“March corporate and individual income tax collections were above revised projections and April’s revenue continues this trend pointing to a positive ‘April surprise’ of roughly $45 million for the income tax categories,” the OFPR newsletter for April said.

The new analysis said Highway Fund revenue was under budget by $1.2 million in April and by $0.6 million, or 0.3 percent, for the fiscal year to date.

“Negative growth in Highway Fund revenue continues through April and the prospect for a turnaround does not seem likely with fuel prices at record levels,” according to the new staff analysis.

On March 31, the Legislature gave final approval to a state budget rewrite to offset a $190 million shortfall in Maine’s $6.3 billion two-year General Fund budget.

The supplemental package made a range of cuts with no new broad-based taxes.

Since then, Democratic lawmakers, with the support of Gov. John Baldacci, pushed through a bill to bolster Maine’s Dirigo Health program in part by broadening beer and wine taxes. The financing package also imposes new wholesale taxes on soda and syrup while replacing a controversial savings offset payment targeting insurers with a 1.8 percent surcharge on paid claims.

Some critics have vowed to undertake a referendum challenge to the new Dirigo Health law.

If the General Fund ends up with a surplus after fiscal 2008 closes on June 30, excess revenue would be channeled to various accounts. Potential beneficiaries include the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund and the MaineCare program for hospital payments.

Among those scheduled to address the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on Thursday is Michael Allen, the director of econometric research for Maine Revenue Services, as the state tax agency is known.