This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 5, 2011 - Income numbers for Missouri's state government showed a slight drop in September, compared to a year ago, a possible sign of a setback in what state budget officials hope is an economic turnaround.
Net general revenue collections for September showed a decline of 1.5 percent compared to a year ago -- a rare situation over the past year, when 2011 numbers have generally been above those in 2010.
But overall, this year's collections have increased enough in earlier months that, overall, the state's revenue collections are up 1.9 percent for this fiscal year, which began July 1, compared to the fiscal year that ended June 30.
So far, the state's general revenue collections have totalled $1.78 billion this fiscal year, compared to $1.75 billion for the same period in 2010.
The state saw a September income drop in every tax category, but one -- the all-important individual income tax colllections, which were up 1 percent in September, compared to September 2010.
Since this fiscal year began July 1, state individual income tax collections have increased 2.2 percent compared to the same period a year.
Corporate tax collections are down 20.3 percent compared to a year ago, but that's due in part to the General Assembly's elimination of the state franchise tax on businesses.
While sales tax collections were down slightly this September, compared to September 2010, collections since July 1 are up 3.1 percent.
Here is the state's breakdown for September:
GROSS COLLECTIONS BY TAX TYPE
Individual income tax collections
Increased 2.2 percent for the year, from $1.22 billion last year to $1.25 billion this year.
Increased 1.0 percent for the month.
Sales and use tax collections
Increased 3.1 percent for the year, from $453.1 million last year to $467.1 million this year.
Decreased 1.2 percent for the month.
Corporate income and corporate franchise tax collections
Decreased 20.6 percent for the year, from $130.5 million last year to $103.5 million this year.
Decreased 20.3 percent for the month.
All other collections
Decreased 16.3 percent for the year, from $126.6 million last year to $106.0 million this year.
Decreased 25.6 percent for the month.
Refunds
Decreased 22.1 percent for the year, from $179.3 million last year to $139.7 million this year.
Decreased 36.1 percent for the month.