The funding, if ultimately approved, would go toward paying off debt for highways, but it was a controversial decision that has not been supported by Democrats or Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. The governor has proposed $33 million for highways and to use a significant chunk of surplus money for education.

The $70 million is still shy of the amount House Republicans want for transportation, and it could be increased this week as a first of two budget bills hits floor debate. The House GOP Caucus supports $85 million for education.

The Executive Appropriations Committee's choice to add the $70 million puts other budget requests - such as money for buildings - farther down the line for funding requests.

"It makes it more difficult for all the other subcommittee's requests - education, natural resources, corrections," said Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, who moved to add the $70 million to the budget bill even though his own GOP caucus had not agreed to the amount.

Committee Chairman, Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, said the amount may not be the one finally approved.

"There are a lot of areas left to negotiate," he said.

The state has about $324 million in revenue it didn't plan on, but about $117 million of that was carved off Wednesday to give a 2.5 percent pay raise and benefit increase to state employees.

With the $70 million for transportation added and other increases for some budgets, lawmakers would be left with about $65 million to divvy up. The state also has about $210 million in surplus revenues besides that amount that has not been doled out.

"We have to be very careful how we use it," Hillyard said.

Lawmakers and Huntsman have been split over how much money to pay into what's called the Centennial Highway Fund, a debt load that right now would be paid off in 2017 with regular payments.

If lawmakers add $70 million to the fund, the debt would be paid off more quickly.

Hillyard acknowledges the decision is not final. The $70 million was added to a budget bill that covers main government spending. That bill probably will be debated this week in the House and Senate, where it can be amended.

Democrats have fought the increase to transportation, and party members voted against adding it to the bill Wednesday.

Some Republicans, though, want more money for the highway fund and could boost the total.

Democrats also made an unsuccessful attempt to boost employee pay raises to 3 percent, but lost in a party-line vote.

The committee heard request after request from subcommittees during an extended meeting Wednesday night, including more money for schools, prison beds, parks and tourism efforts.

Committee members had planned to delay major decisions.

"We want to save all the hard stuff till later," said Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley City, the committee's co-chairman.