JFAC has voted 15-4, along party lines with the panel's four Democrats objecting, to approve a budget target that calls for an additional $56.73 million in budget cuts beyond those already recommended by Gov. Butch Otter. JFAC Co-Chair Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said even though the state economic forecast is for 6.9 percent revenue growth in 2012, "The cochair and I felt like it was more prudent to budget at a 3 percent level. We felt more comfortable that we could actually hit that number."

Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, objected, noting that that means the state would assume it'll have only 3 percent growth next year, when it's tracking at 4.8 percent right now. "I guess I find that pretty pessimistic and pretty low," she said. "I wouldn't mind so much if there weren't so many lives in the balance. ... I don't think that 'caution' that puts lives at risk is really maybe the most prudent thing."

Interestingly, if you combine the additional cuts JFAC is calling for - $56.73 million - and the cuts Gov. Butch Otter already has recommended in his budget for next year - $35.04 million - the total cuts are $91.77 million. That's almost exactly the amount the governor is leaving on the table - $91.5 million - by going with a 3 percent revenue growth assumption for next year rather than his forecasters' estimate of 6.9 percent. That means if the forecasts prove right, virtually none of the cuts actually would have been needed.

---

---