Budget Outlook

The Budget Outlook must:

The State Budget Outlook Work Group will prepare, subject to the approval of the economic and revenue forecast council, an official state budget outlook for state revenues and expenditures for the general fund and related funds. The work group shall provide technical support to the economic and revenue forecast council.

The outlook must estimate revenues to and expenditures from the state general fund and related funds. The estimate must include maintenance items including, but not limited to, continuation of current programs, forecasted growth of current entitlement programs, and actions required by law, including legislation with a future implementation date.

Estimates of ensuing biennium expenditures must exclude policy items including, but not limited to legislation not yet enacted by the legislature, collective bargaining agreements not yet approved by the legislature, and changes to levels of funding for employee salaries and benefits unless those changes are required by statute. Estimated maintenance level expenditures must also exclude costs of court rulings issued during or within fewer than ninety days before the beginning of the current legislative session.