State lawmakers learned in a budget briefing this morning that state revenues ran about $285 million ahead of projections for the first six months of the current budget.

Fiscal research staffer David Crotts warned legislators that figure cannot be used to predict a full year surplus, but he suspects the numbers for January through June will also look good (largely because of cautious projections in the budget).

Crotts and colleagues warned a slowdown in the housing market could have budget implications. Fiscal research staff also warned that rising Medicaid costs could have long-term budget implications.

Here are some sound bites from the proceedings:

David Crotts:

Barry Boardman:

Karen Hammonds-Blank: