This was one of the many reasons I opposed the initiative.

The Office Of Financial Management reported a loss of the revenue from the tax is expected to create a drop in state coffers of $31 million. Along with associated taxes, tax breaks and tax credits, it is expected to mean a net revenue loss of $54.8 million during the remainder of this fiscal year.

According to the Everett Herald, the money from the bottled water, candy and gum tax went into the state's general fund, said Mike Gowrylow, a Department of Revenue spokesman.

“It just makes the budget shortfall even bigger,” he said. “That's something the Legislature and the governor's office will have to wrestle with.”

With voters sending a no-taxes message, the Guvnah says you can expect an all-cuts budget to solve the state's $4.8 billion budget shortfall next year. This sucks.

---

---