House sticks with analyst's revenue estimate

House sticks with analyst's revenue estimate

HELENA — Lawmakers have decided to stick with a revenue estimate from fiscal analysts that frees up about $40 million for the ongoing budget debate.

The House Taxation Committee agreed in a bipartisan vote Wednesday to increase the revenue estimate a bit, while still keeping it about $100 million less than the governor's. The move came after Democrats unsuccessfully tried to convince Republicans to go with the higher figure.

The revenue estimate aims to guess how much money the state will receive in tax money over the next two years. It is used to establish how much can be spent while still meeting the constitutional obligation of a balanced budget.

Republicans are eying a budget that spends about $3.6 billion in state money, roughly equivalent to the revenue estimate pegged on Wednesday.

HELENA — Lawmakers have decided to stick with a revenue estimate from fiscal analysts that frees up about $40 million for the ongoing budget debate.

The House Taxation Committee agreed in a bipartisan vote Wednesday to increase the revenue estimate a bit, while still keeping it about $100 million less than the governor's. The move came after Democrats unsuccessfully tried to convince Republicans to go with the higher figure.

The revenue estimate aims to guess how much money the state will receive in tax money over the next two years. It is used to establish how much can be spent while still meeting the constitutional obligation of a balanced budget.

Republicans are eying a budget that spends about $3.6 billion in state money, roughly equivalent to the revenue estimate pegged on Wednesday.