The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has released tax collection numbers for the month of August, the second month of the new fiscal year (although the state still doesn't have a budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year).

Without an approved budget and with last year's budget ending up $3.25 billion in the red, the state remains on shaky financial ground.

Pennsylvania collected $1.6 billion in General Fund revenue in August, which was $19.9 million, or 1.2 percent, less than anticipated, according to Revenue Secretary Stephen H. Stetler. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $3.3 billion, which is $22 million, or 0.7 percent, below estimate, Stetler said.

The state collected 5 percent less in July 2009 ($1.65 billion) than it did in July 2008 ($1.75 billion) when Gov. Ed Rendell's $28.3 billion red ink budget kicked in.

Collections from the two biggest sources of revenue, the sales tax and the personal income tax, were both down in August, as they were in July.

Translation for Gov. Ed Spendell and the dimwitted Democrats in the House who are holding up the budget in order to raise taxes: Pennsylvanians don't have jobs so they can't pay income taxes and they have nothing left after paying off their bills so they can't buy anything to increase sales tax revenues.

From a Revenue Department Press Release:

Sales tax receipts totaled $662.7 million for August, $13.4 million below estimate. Year-to-date sales tax collections total $1.4 billion, which is $13.4 million, or 1 percent, less than anticipated.

Personal income tax (PIT) revenue in August was $683.5 million, $28.3 million below estimate. This brings year-to-date PIT collections to $1.3 billion, which is $28.4 million, or 2.1 percent, below estimate.

August corporation tax revenue of $50.2 million was $3.9 million above estimate. Year-to-date corporation tax collections total $137.9 million, which is $2.1 million, or 1.6 percent, above estimate.

Other General Fund revenue figures for the month included $59.2 million in inheritance tax, $2.6 million below estimate, bringing the year-to-date total to $122.5 million, which is $2.7 million below estimate.

Realty transfer tax was $29.1 million for August, $2.2 million below estimate, bringing the total to $58.7 million for the year, which is $2.2 million less than anticipated.

Other General Fund tax revenue, including cigarette, malt beverage and liquor taxes totaled $91.5 million for the month, $8.5 million above estimate and bringing the year-to-date total to $174 million, which is $8.4 million above estimate.

Follow the link below to read the rest of the revenue report:

Revenue Department Releases August Collections

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS