Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in May 2017 was up 3.2 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in July 2017 is up 7.3 percent compared to the same period a year ago. This positive change indicates an increasing growth trend that is desperately needed by the state to address the significant shortfall in Medicaid (in excess of $7 billion all funds) appropriated by the Legislature.