POST FALLS - Idaho is projected to have surplus revenue at the end of the fiscal year, but some legislators hesitate to call it that.

Especially when some of the estimated $170 million is expected to be used to start rebuilding "rainy day" accounts from which funds were taken in previous years to limit cuts in programs and staff.

"The availability of this money is what saved us from more devastating cuts during the past two years," said Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls. "We need to repay the accounts from which the money was borrowed."

Local legislators presented their views of the upcoming session during the legislative sendoff luncheon held by the Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene chambers of commerce on Thursday at the Post Falls Senior Center.

Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, expects more funding to be available beyond replenishing rainy day funds at the end of the year and he supports putting some of it back into education.

"We cut education significantly last year," Goedde said. "It would be helpful to bring back some of those programs."

Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, said he's "fairly optimistic" that the budget ax has hit bottom.

"We shouldn't be in cutting mode as much as maintaining," he said. "That should speed the session up. A lot of us believe that, if we do get revenue, that doesn't mean we'll be getting programs."

Hammond said he expects more work on tweaking urban renewal is ahead. He said concerns remain about such funding extending beyond economic development and job creation - the tool's original intent.

Gary Ingram, a Coeur d'Alene resident and former legislator, was among about 100 who attended the luncheon.

He said he would like to see other groups that have a stake in keeping water bodies clear of invasive mussels to chip in on the state's inspection program so boaters don't carry all of the funding burden.

"I'm not complaining about paying $10 (for a sticker), but I'd hate to see it be raised to $20 when there's other sources," Ingram said.

Henderson plans to propose an amendment that lowers a requirement for employers to access Department of Labor funding for workforce training. Under the current law, employers must pay at least $12 per hour and offer benefits, but Henderson believes lowering the wage to $9 per hour is more realistic for the local market.

Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, said he plans to work on legislation cracking down on Medicaid fraud.

"Medicaid is such a big part of the budget that we have to do something to contain it," he said.

Rep. Marge Chadderdon, R-Coeur d'Alene, believes there will be another debate about allowing guns on college campuses.

"I don't want to imply that I have anything against gun permits, but if you allow guns on campus, who's going to control it?" she said.

Chadderdon plans to propose a bill for a pet license plate that would generate funds to spay and neuter animals.

"The whole intention ... would be to help people control the overpopulation, particularly dogs and cats," she said.

With transportation, Hammond said to expect limited, if any, new road projects.

"All we can do is maintain what we've got," he said.