Anemic revenue numbers for the fiscal year-to-date bring out talk of withholdings of funds to state services and could impact the next budget lawmakers are putting together. Commissioner of Administration Mike Keathley says February’s numbers show an increase of just 2.4-percent for the fiscal year-to-date – significantly lower than the 3.8-percent legislators thought they would get. If the current trend continues to the end of the fiscal year, the state could end up $70-Million short, forcing withholdings to balance the budget. But Keathley remains optimistic the numbers will come through. And,he admits if the growth stays anemic, the consensus revenue estimate for Fiscal Year ’06 put together in December might have to be revised down.
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