Idaho's legislative budget writers are facing significant increases in routine expenses as they prepare for the upcoming session beginning in January.

That financial pressure includes big hikes to anticipated employee health care costs, Medicaid spending and public education.

If the lawmakers fully funded these items, plus each proposed request from state agencies, Idaho would end the next fiscal year $555.2 billion in debt.

"We're not really in a budget crisis," said Sen. Scott Grow (R-Eagle), who co-chairs the legislature's budget committee. "It's a matter of how we're going to deal with it in the session."

"The narrative has gotten a little bit out of control keeping in mind the [revenue projection] is a best guess. It's a hypothetical number about what we think might happen," added

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