BOISE - State revenue for March, bolstered by a strong performance from personal income tax collections, have beat projections set previously by lawmakers and top state officials.

A preliminary report issued Wednesday attributes the positive economic news to a personal income tax that generated $45.2 million, about 50 percent higher than targets set by Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter.

Total collections for the month were $130.4 million, about $15 million higher than forecast, marking the first time in six months that state revenue collections actually beat forecasts.

Still, state budget officials and legislative budget writers say they remain cautious, at least until more is known about the revenue performance for April, traditionally the state's biggest revenue month as taxpayers begin filing in advance of the April 15 tax deadline. April is projected to bring in $373.5 million, including $269.9 million from the personal income tax.

"Obviously, it's a good sign," Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, co-chairman of the Legislature's budget committee, told the

Idaho Statesman "But I'm unwilling to get too excited about it until I see April's numbers."

Preliminary March figures also show the state sales tax generated $66.8 million, about $800,000 better than the forecast. That gain was offset by the low performance in the corporate income tax, which generated $9.1 million, about $800,000 below the target.

The March revenue figures are a relief for a state that has struggled for months to meet its revenue goals. Since December, state tax revenue had missed targets by a total of $46 million, forcing lawmakers to reduce spending for the current fiscal year and set up a contingency plan for the last four months of fiscal 2010.