STATE OF CONNECTICUT
NANCY WYMAN COMPTROLLER	OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775	MARK OJAKIAN DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

State Comptroller Nancy Wyman today projected that the state will end the 2001 fiscal year with a budget surplus of $663.9 million - an increase of about $62 million from last month's estimate.

Wyman attributed the hike to a $25 million jump in income tax revenues; growth in the inheritance and estate tax by about $20 million and that the state paid about $22 million less in income tax refunds than was anticipated. Those gains were somewhat offset by a $30 million reduction in projected revenues from the corporation tax.

"The drop in the corporation tax is a result of the slowing economy squeezing profits from businesses," Wyman said. "But these trends have a history of reversing very quickly, and there are indications that corporations will see a stronger second half of the year."

Wyman noted that the surplus would be even larger if not for an estimated $130.2 million in overspending by state agencies. Nearly 75 percent of the excess spending is for health care costs, she said, including Medicaid, the ConnPACE prescription drug program and mental health expenses.

The spending over budget targets is primarily the result of medical inflation, double-digit cost increases in prescription drugs, interim nursing home rate increases, costs associated with special-needs education grant payments and increases in staffing at the state Department of Children and Families.

The State Comptroller appreciates input on this and other issues from residents of the state. Please feel free to contact her office by phone - (860) 702-3300; mail - OSC, 55 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106; or, via E-mail - osc.opinions@po.state.ct.us

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