Estimates say Florida's economy is going up, up, up!
State officials are expected to meet Friday to draw up new forecasts regarding how much the state will collect in taxes. Those forecasts will be used to write this year's budget.
Preliminary findings predict the state's main budget account will grow by as much as 4.5 percent during the fiscal year that ends in June.
Those forecasts also estimate growth of around 4 percent for the 2017-18 fiscal year. If the forecasts hold, legislators could have nearly $180 million more to spend. But it probably won't be enough to stop legislators from considering budget cuts.
Citing a potential shortfall over the next few years, House Republicans are planning to cut $1.4 billion.