As we enter the home stretch of the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers’ focus will turn to one thing – budgets. In odd numbered years, the legislature is required to create and pass three budgets: the Operating budget, Transportation budget, and the Capital budget.
Today I’m going share highlights of each budget. But first, let me give you a little background. The operating budget is very broad and is by far the largest of the three. It basically funds the daily operations of our state government. Some items this budget covers include human services, education, natural resources, and state employee salaries. The transportation budget is more obvious, and it funds construction and maintenance for roads, bridges and ferries. Finally, the capital budget, is a brick-and-mortar budget that invests in the construction and repair of buildings such as schools, state offices and historical sites.