April tax collections bring more bad news for Pennsylvania

MARC LEVY, Associated Press, AP

HARRISBURG — April’s tax collections are delivering another blow to an already grim fiscal picture for Pennsylvania state government.

The Susquehanna River is seen in the background of this aerial photograph of the Capitol complex in Harrisburg.

Legislative officials said Monday that last month’s tax collections came in $537 million below expectations. That means the state’s overall shortfall 10 months through the fiscal year is more than $1 billion.

Rep. Joseph Markosek, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, says April’s shortfall must serve as a wake-up call.

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The growing gap could put more pressure on Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to accept spending cuts or the Republican-controlled Legislature to raise taxes as they prepare a budget plan for the fiscal year starting this July 1.

The Department of Revenue had no immediate comment, but a spokesman says the agency was preparing to issue a monthly revenue statement later Monday.