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Even though the state has an estimated $638 million budget surplus, legislators are launching an effort to identify possible spending cuts of about 2 percent.

It's not that they actually expect to make those cuts, said Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, Senate chairman of the Executive Appropriations Committee. But they expect that the exercise may identify some savings and potential efficiencies.

"Before we spend new money, we should carefully scrutinize the money already being spent," Hillyard told the Senate on Monday.

"In a similar exercise last year, we found $70 million" sitting in unused accounts or set aside for unneeded programs, he said.

Hillyard said the work will help lawmakers understand impacts if revenue were to decline and cuts need to be made. Also, he said it may identify areas where more efficiency is needed.

It is the second year in a row that the Legislature will spend its first week focusing most of its work on the state's $13.5 billion budget.

Last year, lawmakers held no hearings on regular bills during the session's first week to allow appropriations subcommittees to focus on the budget. This year it will allow some standing committee hearings by cutting back on the time that the full Senate and House meet, Hillyard said.