Governor Matt Mead and other state officials are spending the summer watching energy prices as they make plans for a new budget next year.
The governor says his priorities range from local government to health care. Mead expects that projected revenue may be down for the next two years, but he doesn't want budget cuts.
"To cut another six percent as we did before I think would be very difficult, I think just not hiring people to fill jobs would be difficult and even together it may not make up the difference."
Mead says state government will need to live within its means and growth will be limited, but he says the state will likely need to dip into the rainy day fund to get by. State agencies will begin submitting budget proposals later this summer.