Topeka ? Kansas officials are preparing to issue a new fiscal forecast that could leave the state with a projected deficit in its current budget again.

University economists, legislative researchers and officials in Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration met Friday and scheduled an afternoon news conference to issue revised projections for tax collections through June 2017.

The new forecast was coming hours after the Kansas Supreme Court heard arguments about whether a school funding law enacted earlier this year complies with the state constitution and whether the state immediately owes school districts another $54 million.

Since the current fiscal year began in July, tax collections have been short of expectations by about $78 million, or 4.1 percent.

The state boosted sales and cigarette taxes in July to close an earlier budget shortfall.