State tax collections totaled $67.3 billion through Feb. 28, a decline of $481 million or 0.7 percent from the same period last year, according to the state cash report issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Year to date tax collections were $103 million higher than the latest projections included in the Third Quarter Update to the Financial Plan released with the Executive Budget on Feb. 23.

"While tax collections for much of this fiscal year were lower than expected, receipts to date are now in line with the reduced projections in the latest Financial Plan Update," DiNapoli said.

Through 11 months of the fiscal year, All Funds receipts totaled nearly $136.6 billion, a decline of $260.8 million, or 0.2 percent, from a year earlier. Total receipts ended the month over $1 billion lower than the latest projections, primarily because of timing of federal payments.

All Funds spending totaled just under $131.5 billion through the end of February, approximately $3.6 billion, or 2.8 percent higher, than last year for the same period. Significant increases include spending for public health programs (up $2 billion largely because of federally funded payments to the Essential Plan Program) and Medicaid (up $1.4 billion primarily from federal sources). All Funds spending was $557 million lower than the latest projections, primarily in local assistance grants and capital projects.

The General Fund ended February with a balance of $12 billion, $160.8 million lower than the latest projections and nearly $2.3 billion lower than a year earlier.

For a detailed breakdown, go to http://www.osc.state.ny.us/finance/cbr.htm.

DiNapoli's office issues a state cash report every month identifying state revenues and spending from the prior month. The cash report focuses primarily on the General Fund and All Governmental Funds. The General Fund is the major operating fund of the state. All Governmental Funds includes General, Special Revenue, Debt Service and Capital Projects funds, as well as funds from the federal government. The report is now accessible in Excel and Adobe formats.

For access to state and local government spending, public authority financial data and information on 130,000 state contracts, visit Open Book New York. The easy-to-use website was created to promote transparency in government and provide taxpayers with better access to financial data.