LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts has declared a hiring freeze and a moratorium on some travel in the wake of a revenue shortfall.

The Nebraska Department of Revenue announced Friday that gross tax receipts in September totaled $507 million, which is 1.6 percent below projections set in February of $515 million. After tax refunds, the September net receipts of $437 million was 5.3 percent below the forecast of $462 million.

The state has been preparing for a tight budget in the upcoming 2017 session. Ricketts had already directed state agency leaders to look carefully at whether new hires are necessary and to limit travel and delay some purchases.

Ricketts said Friday that he is not likely to call a special session of the Legislature to deal with the shortfall.