AUSTIN, TEXAS (AP) -- Texas Comptroller Susan Combs says the state is projected to have $72.2 billion for general purpose spending over the next two years, a $7.8 billion drop from the last state budget.
But taking into account about $7 billion in federal stimulus money that will not be available, Texas faces a shortfall of at least $15 billion.
The shortfall estimate does not account for expected growth in the number of people on Medicaid rolls and increased demand for education, issues the Texas Legislature will begin to deal with on Tuesday. The revenue estimate does include a $4.3 billion deficit in the current state budget.
The numbers cover the 2012-2013 state budget.
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