CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Strong tax collections in April should put the state in line to finish the 2014-15 budget year with a balanced budget, Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss said Tuesday.
“I think we’re on target to come in with a balanced budget without having to do anything drastic,” Kiss said during a monthly media conference on state revenue figures.
With two months remaining in the 2014-15 budget year, which ends June 30, overall state revenue collections total $3.48 billion, about $23.77 million below estimates, but $61 million ahead of the same point last year.
“As long as things don’t go drastically south on us in May or June, we’re fairly comfortable,” Kiss said of ending the year without a budget deficit.
Overall revenue collections for April of $564.8 million came in at $24.27 million, or nearly 5 percent, above projections.
“April was not a bad month,” Kiss said, adding, “It is a significant revenue month in terms of the big picture.”
April’s total revenue was down about $12 million compared to April 2014 figures, but Deputy Revenue Secretary Mark Muchow noted that last April’s revenue figures included $70 million of supplemental appropriations transferred to close funding gaps in the 2013-14 budget.
“Compared to last year, we’re up by 10 percent, which is very healthy…