Lt. Gov.-elect Gary Herbert said Thursday that he and his boss, Gov.-elect Jon Huntsman Jr., are looking for potential cost-cutting methods that they hope could slash 1 percent out of the state's $8 billion budget.

In a speech to the nonpartisan Utah Foundation, Herbert outlined the priorities of the new administration, including the top item: economic vitality. It was a restatement of many of the campaign's stump speeches, but Herbert said he and Huntsman are dedicated to fulfilling promises.

"The easy part is to talk about it. The difficult part is to do it," he said.

Slashing 1 percent won't be easy.

"It might be tough to find a whole $82 million," said incoming House Speaker Greg Curtis. But with the executive and legislative branches working together, some savings could be found, Curtis added. "I would applaud that kind of effort."

Outgoing House Speaker Marty Stephens said during his unsuccessful campaign for governor that there is $30 million to $50 million that could be saved in state government - money that he wanted to divert to schools.

Herbert said the Huntsman transition team is looking to make government more efficient "by cleaning out the cobwebs," and that could mean a lot of money saved and directed to public education.

Some of the savings could be gained through employee attrition. Herbert said after the speech that the Huntsman team is still considering a partial hiring freeze.

"It's clearly something we'd like to take a look at," he said.

The state currently has more than 18,000 employees, and Herbert said it would be better to pay fewer people more money.

"Before we expand, maybe we should take stock and review," he said.

Herbert on Thursday was filling in for Huntsman for scheduled events while Huntsman attended the funeral of his grandmother, Ruby Haight, the wife of the late Mormon apostle David B. Haight.

Herbert, repeating a campaign pledge, said that when Huntsman takes office, his main priority will be improving economic development, a move he says will benefit other priorities such as education.

The incoming lieutenant also said that transportation will be a key issue with the new governor. He cited a logjam in traffic Thursday morning that made him late for a breakfast meeting. "It takes just a little hiccup and we've got gridlock," he said.

Herbert noted that he and Huntsman have been meeting with various regional leaders, including Colorado Gov. Bill Owens. Huntsman also met with Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, the incoming Democratic leader of the Senate.