August net available general revenues are up slightly from last year and beat expectations by $12.3 million (or 3.2 percent) according to today’s report from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. An unanticipated boost in all major revenue sources made up for the expected lull in sales tax collections. The DFA reports mixed outcomes for smaller categories, with tobacco revenues slowing and gaming revenues showing double-digit growth.

After two months, the total net available revenue for the current fiscal year is $801.4 million, which is .4 percent above last year’s total and $2.5 million or 0.3 percent above the forecast. Net general revenue represents the bottom line of funds available for distribution to state agencies and comes from taking certain off-the-top deductions from gross general revenue (like a portion of education adequacy funding and tax refunds).