Missouri revenues down 6.9 percent in 2009 fiscal year

The state Office of Administration said Thursday that both income taxes and sales taxes declined while tax refunds rose during the fiscal year that ended Tuesday.

Missouri's budget assumed a 3.4 percent growth in general revenues. Final figures show a 6.9 percent decline compared to 2008.

State budget director Linda Luebbering attributed the sharp revenue decline to the national recession. The missed revenue projections have caused Gov. Jay Nixon to cut expenditures to keep the budget in balance.

For the year, sales tax collections fell 5.8 percent; individual income tax collections dropped 2.9 percent; and corporate tax collections fell 13.9 percent.

Tax refunds rose by 14.5 percent.