Wolf’s team confirms $2 billion deficit in Pa.

     Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Wolf discusses the state budget during a news conference at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

    Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Wolf discusses the state budget during a news conference at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

    Gov.-elect Tom Wolf says his transition team’s examination of Pennsylvania’s fiscal situation has not turned up any surprises as it confirmed a roughly $2 billion deficit for the fiscal year beginning in July.

    Key findings from the group’s report are expected to be released Friday.

    “We have a mess — I knew that going in,” Wolf told reporters Thursday. “The mess is as big as I feared it was, so I have a lot of work to do — we all do.”

    Members of his transition team were tasked with taking a closer look at the state’s structural deficit, pegged at roughly $1.9 billion about a month ago.

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    Wolf’s staff suggested the actual deficit might be even greater. They pointed to the Corbett administration’s use of one-time funding sources to balance the most recent spending plan — funds that won’t be available this time around.

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