Lawmakers to begin setting state budget, education leader crying foul

SALT LAKE CITY — Updated revenue estimates will be released Tuesday as lawmakers start the arduous task of piecing together a nearly $13 billion state budget.

And one big player in the budget deliberations is crying foul over the process, accusing the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee of pulling a fast one.

House and Senate leaders say they don't know what the numbers will be, but don't anticipate much deviation from the November projection showing a $280 million increase in the 2013 budget year.

"If the revenues figures go up, I'll have a lot more people here asking for money. Then we'll get a play or discussion about tax cuts," said Senate Budget Chairman Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan.

"If on the other hand it goes down, then I'm going back to people who at least expect they're getting last year's base budget and may find out they're not getting that."

House Speaker Becky Lockhart said she hopes the projections don't go down.

"I will be very pleased if the numbers are what we thought they would be. I would more pleased if the numbers are up a little bit. I don't anticipate that," the Provo Republican said.

Either way, Lockhart has said the prospects of a tax cut this year are "slim to none."

Legislators do know they will have an extra $23 million to spend thanks to the national mortgage fraud settlement. That money could be used for variety of things, including help for struggling homeowners, leaders said.

Gov. Gary Herbert proposed a $12.9 billion budget in December. It includes a $111 million boost to public education to cover the cost of more students as well as expand all-day kindergarten and other early intervention programs.

The governor's proposal also contains a 1 percent raise of for state employees. To meet his goal of creating 100,000 jobs by mid-2013, he proposes $20.4 million for economic development initiatives, $11.6 million for job creation incentives and $6 million for tourism marketing.

Legislators will determine whether Herbert get's what he's asking for, and he will again make his wishes known when he see the revenue projections.

"The governor will certainly weigh in. He does not make the budget, we do," Hillyard said. "We will listen to him and work with him. I think he's worked hard at being relevant."