PPT Slide
The next series of charts relative to tobacco tax and casino revenue illustrates the potential hurdles that the Legislature will have to overcome if they wish to use either revenue source. In the case of the tobacco tax, which the governor has proposed using in the Executive Budget for Medicaid programs, the Revenue Estimating Conference must recognize the source for use next year. In the event the Conference does recognize the source, the Legislature must appropriate the funds. There are a number of other proposed uses of the tobacco funds that will compete with the Governor’s recommendations. In the case of the casino revenue, again, the Conference must recognize the revenue, as either recurring or non-recurring. In either case, there are statutory and constitutional restrictions which mandate the use of such funds. The Governor’s Executive Budget recommends spending a portion of the casino revenue as though it is a recurring revenue source. There are strong indications that the Revenue Estimating Conference will declare that revenue as non-recurring. Additionally, even if the revenue was determined to be recurring , the Legislature would have to change the law in order for the Governor to use the revenue as he has proposed.