

Combs' official revenue estimate sets the limit for how much lawmakers can budget for state services.

Her estimate puts the shortfall in the amount needed to continue the current level of services - taking into account such items as population growth - at least at $27 billion, according to figures from the Center for Public Policy Priorities, which focuses on low- and moderate-income Texans.

Virtually every program is expected to be on the chopping block, since state leaders have said they'll close a budget gap without new taxes.


Combs' estimate includes a prediction that tax collections will fall $4.3 billion short in this budget period. Combs' $72.2 billion figure takes that shortfall into account.


The state does have a rainy-day savings account that can be used to help meet the shortfall, if a super-majority of lawmakers agree to spend it.

State leaders, who have said they will close the budget gap without new taxes, already have asked government agencies to identify cuts. Large cuts are expected to be part of the initial proposals filed by legislative budget leaders.

The current, 2010-2011 state budget is $182.2 billion in state and federal funds.

State general revenue - the money over which lawmakers have discretion - is $80.6 billion of that, or $87 billion when you take into account stimulus funds that lawmakers used like general revenue.

Most of the general revenue budget goes for public and higher education and health and human services.