BOISE -- Gov. Butch Otter's proposed budget got a little boost from the latest tax revenue collections that were $6.3 million above projections.
Tuesday's release of figures for January point toward continued economic strengthening.
Otter aides have been roaming the Capitol with preliminary numbers recently -- to make the case that Idaho revenue will be sufficient to support the Republican's 2013 budget proposal.
That includes a proposed $41 million raise for teachers and state employees, as well as a $45 million tax cut.
The sales tax beat its forecast for the second straight month, exceeding expectations by $7.6 million.
State economist Derek Santos says January's sales-tax performance is an important milestone because it's the month with the year's highest expected collections, on sales that took place during December's holiday shopping season.
