The effects of newly downgraded tax revenue projections will be "minimal" for the current state budget but will be "quite considerable and severe" in future years, causing Gov. Neil Abercrombie's administration to at least consider the possibility of future tax increases, Budget Director Kalbert Young said today.

Young's comments came in a budget briefing to state legislators.

"Revenue enhancements should be at least reviewed," Young said.

Pressed by Rep. Barbara Marumoto on possible tax increase proposals, Young said, "I can't stand before you and say definitely no or definitely yes. Just given the order of magnitude of what we are looking at, several options would have to be explored," he said.

The state is in the middle year of a two-year budget cycle, and lower-than-expected predictions for tax revenues released last week have caused the state to estimate a $19 million shortfall by end of the 2013 fiscal year, Young said.