Revenue $74.2M Ahead Of Forecast

The much-awaited state tax revenue figures for April - the biggest month of the year - are in, and the news is good. April tax revenues beat forecasts by $14 million, putting the state’s tax revenue to date for the fiscal year $74.2 million above the state’s forecasts. “Obviously this is great news, and it confirms the wisdom of Gov. Otter’s conservative approach to budgeting in collaboration with legislative Republicans,” said Otter’s budget chief, Wayne Hammon/ Betsy Russell , Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: Wayne Hammon, of course, is spinning this to make Gov. Otter appear wise in his conservative approach to the budget. But could it also be spun to say that programs were sliced unnecessarily?