TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Preliminary forecasts show that Florida's economy continues to grow, although not as much as once predicted.
State economists are meeting Monday to draw up new forecasts to predict how much the state will collect in taxes.
The forecasts will be used to draw up a three-year outlook for the state budget.
Preliminary estimates show that economists expect the state's main budget account to grow nearly four percent during the fiscal year that ends next June. But they are predicting growth as high as 4.6 percent in the 2017-18 fiscal year.
If the forecasts hold it would give legislators nearly $2 billion extra for 2017.
Still, the number of public school students continues to grow and Medicaid expenses could also increase. Those expenses could shrink the size of any surplus.
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