State lawmakers plan to push a massive borrowing bill next year.

But they aren’t likely to talk about the huge reserves some state agencies sit on – including themselves.

State agencies collectively have about $484.5 million in taxes, according to Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom’s year-end report.

That is about the size of a taxpayer-backed bond bill that died in the legislature last year. About half of that was for higher education.

Next year, lawmakers reportedly plan to introduce another bill to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars which taxpayers will have to repay for repairs at colleges and universities and other state-owned buildings.

As of June 30, the state had a total reserve of nearly $1.2 billion, including about $484.5 million.

Eckstrom’s report.shows that the House and Senate have more than $30 million in reserve for themselves.

The House had $25 million as of July 1 – nearly $2.9 million more than its $22.2 million budget.

The Senate has $6.1 million representing 43% of its nearly $14.3 million budget.

House and Seante spokes persons have not responded to questions about this.

Eckstrom, the state’s chief accountant, said: “Competent financial planners advise households to budget and set aside sufficient funds to cover a minimum of three months of household expenses – 25% of their annual expenses – to deal with eventualities beyond their control.

“Prudent budgeting policy should encourage agencies to practice like-minded budgeting discipline.”

Brundrett is news editor of The Nerve. Contact him at 803-254-4411 or rick@thenerve.org .