The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee wrapped up agency budget-setting last week; all told, $2.779 billion was appropriated to state agencies for next year in state general funds, a 2.8 percent increase over this year but below the 3 percent increase Gov. Butch Otter had recommended.The joint committee’s final budget action on Friday was an appropriation from the Permanent Building Fund for $12.5 million to start attacking a $700 million backlog in deferred maintenance at the state’s universities. Under the appropriation, BSU, ISU and the U of I would each get $3.75 million to address their deferred maintenance needs, and Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston would get $1.25 million.

The money is available from cigarette tax funds that would normally go to repaying the Capitol renovation bonds and funding the school bond levy equalization program next year. Here’s why: The cost of the Capitol renovation came in lower than expected, reducing the fiscal year 2012 bond payment and leaving an excess balance available; and fewer funds are required for the bond levy equalization program next year, partly because lottery proceeds for that program came in much higher than expected. You can read my full Sunday column here at spokesman.com.