The Great Budget Bake-Off

Ingredients:

• 8 – Appropriations Subcommittee Reports (linked below):
  • Economic and Community Development
  • Criminal Justice
  • Higher Education
  • General Government
  • Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality
  • Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Public Education
  • Social Services
  • Executive Appropriations
• 1 – Executive Appropriations Committee (EAC), seasoned with leadership from both chambers and parties
• 1 – Batch of Freshly Baked Revenue Estimates
• 1 – Copy of Joint Rule 3-2-402 (the recipe book)

Instructions:

1. Prep: Each of the seven Appropriations Subcommittees thoroughly reviewed their assigned agency budgets, and approved intent language, fees, non-state fund adjustments, and prioritized wish lists for new state funds. These lists are the key flavor components of our fiscal dessert. (See individual subcommittee reports for specific ingredient details).
2. Sifting: On February 18^th and 19^th, the subcommittee chairs presented their reports and prioritized funding requests to EAC. These reports ensure the best ingredients are considered first.
3. Temperature Check: EAC’s culinary endeavors are aided by updated revenue estimates which, due to the timing of this year’s session, are now available (though still subject to adoption by the Executive Appropriations Committee in the coming week). The flavor of the update is a net reduction across the Income Tax Fund and General Fund, to the tune of $74 million one-time and $38 million ongoing. (See the Tax Commission’s Revenue Summary and Revenue Snapshot for the full collections information).
4. Combine the Ingredients: Subcommittee priorities along with fiscal impacts of legislation may not always combine well with revenue projections, meaning that recipe adjustments may be necessary. More than one budget round ensures consistency.
5. Bake Time: The budget must come out of the oven before March 7^th. All funding increases, reductions, and technical adjustments will be carefully incorporated into one of several appropriations bills. EAC acts as the final taste tester for these gourmet bills.

Yield: one balanced budget.

Recipe Notes:

• Revenue estimates may add a bitter taste.
• This recipe requires careful attention to detail and a steady hand.
• From the kitchen of Jonathan Ball.

The reports referenced in this post are available at the following links:
February Revenue Snapshot (FY 25)
Tax Commission Revenue Summary (Period 6, FY 2025)
Revenue Publications Archive