The state's earlier apprehensions about lower-than-projected tax collections have been confirmed with a tally of taxes that shows general fund deposits were up only 3.4 percent in the last fiscal year instead of the hoped-for 6 percent.

Preliminary figures released by the state Department of Taxation show state general fund tax revenues rose to $4.58 billion in the year ended June 30. That was less than the approximately $4.7 billion that state officials had planned on in mapping out the state budget.

Earlier this month, officials said they anticipated a shortfall of about $115 million in taxes because of the expected lower growth. At the time, legislators said there shouldn't be an immediate effect on programs or services. Gov. Linda Lingle has also acknowledged a slower increase in the tax take in discussing vetoes of legislative bills.

The state budget was based on a projected 6 percent growth rate issued by the Council of Revenues in March. Since then, the council cut its revenue growth forecast to 4 percent because of a slowing economy and other issues. The seven-member council is primarily made up of prominent Hawai'i economists and prepares revenue estimates for state government, issuing forecasts in June, September, January and March.

At the time it cut its revenue estimate, the council noted the state's economy is still growing. The council said tax receipts had been affected because corporate tax collections were down and that individual income taxes weren't growing as much because of a tax cut that began in January.

The council also had left unchanged its forecast for the present fiscal year that calls for a 6 percent rise in general fund tax revenue.

The preliminary tally released last week by the tax department shows general excise and use taxes rose by 8.5 percent last year to almost $2.56 billion, but that there was little growth in individual income taxes and that corporate tax collections fell 37 percent in the fiscal 2007 tax year because of a large one-time payment of $40 million the prior year.

Reach Greg Wiles at gwiles@honoluluadvertiser.com.