MONTGOMERY — State government’s tax collections for the first three months of the fiscal year are running nearly 6 percent behind the same months last year.

The state Revenue Department reports that Alabama took in more than $2.1 billion in taxes for October, November and December. That’s about $120 million less than the same months a year ago.

Much of the drop is due to declines in sales taxes and corporate income taxes, which support public education.

Alabamians are also using less gas during the recession. The Revenue Department reports that gas tax collections are down 3 percent for the first three months of fiscal 2009. Gas taxes are used to build and repair highways.