Idaho forecasts surplus for 2012

BOISE (AP) - Idaho will end the fiscal year with $77 million in the bank, if current projections hold.

These comparatively bright prospects - after three years of revenue shortfalls - were delivered Thursday at a taxpayer lobbying group's conference in Boise by the Idaho Legislature's budget manager, Cathy Holland-Smith.

Already, agencies are clamoring for the money.

They've submitted $143 million in requests above their existing budgets, so not everybody will get everything they want.

One thing is for sure: If budget predictions hold, Idaho will begin restocking reserves drained from about $400 million back at the start of the recession in fiscal year 2009.

The fact that Idaho doesn't have much in its rainy-day fund leaves Holland-Smith a little concerned about what could happen if the economy were to tank again.