An 8.9 percent increase from fiscal 2005 to 2006 is not the largest single year of government growth in Utah in recent years. During then-record-setting tax revenue years of the mid-1990s, non-transportation spending grew even higher than 10 percent.

But after the lean budget years of 2002, 2003 and 2004, conservative GOP lawmakers said the state can't again go on a "spending spree" this year (as one Republican said in caucus), even though at $600 million in one-time and ongoing tax revenues, legislators had the most new money ever.

"We're spending a lot of money," Rep. Brad Johnson, R-Aurora, said during a recent budget debate in arguing not to spend more than GOP caucuses had already agreed upon. "Now we're taking from reserve accounts and spending on our pet projects. We're on a slippery slope. We're spending more money than the last four years."

"Just a few years ago, we had a $3 billion budget," said Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper. "Now near $9 billion, we've tripled our budget size. And we ask where can we cut? There are more demands, not less."

Because of recent lean years, "We had a lot of pent-up demand" this session, a lot of pressure, said Alexander.

"In recent years, we said we didn't have any money and people believed us," he added. "This year we had a lot of money, and (state agencies and other special interests) knew it."

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com

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