Spurred by stronger than expected sales tax receipts, total General Fund revenues exceeded estimates for August by $7 million, or 0.4%. Through the first two months of 2010-11, General Fund revenues are $6 million, or 0.2%, over estimate.
The Rendell administration on Tuesday detailed $212 million in cuts from the 2010-11 state budget as part of a plan to bridge a revenue shortfall. Lawmakers had counted on about $250 million in enhanced federal FMAP funding in the budget that was not approved by Congress last month, creating the shorfall.
A day after Congress approved a $16 billion extension of FMAP funds and a $10 billion education jobs fund, Governor Ed Rendell announced more budget cuts are on the way.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 247-161 Tuesday to provide $26 billion in additional federal assistance to the states. The Senate passed the bill last week, and President Barack Obama signed it into law Tuesday.