CONCORD — State revenues for the 2012 fiscal year that ended June 30 are $26.6 million below what lawmakers projected, although the picture will change when the state’s books are audited.

The biggest issue remaining is $34.1 million in Medicaid Enhancement Tax the state believes hospitals owe, but hospitals contest.

If state coffers do receive the money, there could be a $7.5 million surplus instead of a deficit.

The state collected $2.16 billion in revenue for the year, while budget writers had projected $2.19 billion, nearly identical to last year’s collections.

“Outside of the MET, which the DRA has indicated will be coming in late, our Ways and Means Committee has done an outstanding job of predicting our revenues,” said House Speaker William O’Brien. “If we had gone with Governor (John) Lynch and the Democrats’ revenue figures, we would have been looking squarely at a deficit of over $120 million right now. Instead of worrying about what taxes and fees to raise and laying off more state employees, state leaders can focus on how we can get our economy back on track and create new jobs, thanks to our commitment to producing reliable revenue estimates.”

For the month of June, revenues were $2.1 million ahead of the budget plan with the state collecting $207 million. Most revenues were below projections for the month, but $5 million of the Medicaid Enhancement Tax was collected but not expected, which helped boost income.

Business taxes for the month were down $2.7 million, returning $78.6 million. For the fiscal year, business taxes are ahead of projection by $10.3 million, putting $513.5 million in the state’s coffers. Last fiscal year, the state collected $487.6 million in business taxes.

Department of Revenue officials say they received more tax revenue this year, but revenue from audits was down by $21.2 million, but so were refunds which totaled $17.7 million for the year.

The number of auditors in the department was reduced under the current state operating budget.

The second-largest deficit for the year is the tobacco tax, which was reduced by 10 cents a pack. The state collected $212 million this fiscal year, $11.5 million below projections and $20.1 million below what was collected last fiscal year. For June tobacco taxes returned $18.8 million, which is $1.6 million below estimates.

Liquor revenues also lagged in June, down $2.8 million, returning $9.7 million. For the year, liquor revenues are off by $6.7 million, returning $124.7 million. Liquor revenues were $125 million last fiscal year.

grayno@unionleader.com