Those hoping for big surpluses to pay for special interest state initiatives can’t find great encouragement in the state tax take for May.

Gross revenue of almost $433 million was 1.2 percent more than last year, but 1.7 percent below forecast.

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The net figure was worse because of a one-time expense — only .7 percent ahead of last year. But the revenue was reduced by an $8.2 million sales and use tax refund in a court settlement. 

The sales tax — a good measure of economic activity — was down a whopping 9 percent, or $17 million, from the same month last year (the collections reflect April spending for the most part). The report put some of that down to reduced sales taxes on utilities.

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With one month to go in the budget year, the state is $104 million ahead of forecast. That figure amounts to the surplus. The governor plans to tap $40 million of that for highways next year.

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