INDIANAPOLIS | With only minor fussing, state lawmakers agreed Tuesday to join Gov. Mitch Daniels' administration in crafting a new revenue forecast upon which to base the next state budget.

The request came from the Republican governor, who blistered legislators last month after they considered a two-year, $30 billion spending plan that he believes was $1 billion out of balance. Daniels based his assumption on April tax collections, which came in $255 million below a two-year forecast lawmakers received on April 17.

On Tuesday, the State Budget Committee, a House-Senate panel led by the governor's budget director, unanimously voted to put its staffers to work on a new revenue road map for the next budget, which will take effect in July and run through June 2011.

Before the vote, State Budget Director Chris Ruhl irked Democrats when he insisted the forecasters root out potential flaws in the methodology behind the forecast delivered last month.

"If we don't, we're going to get the same results," he said. "And it's going to be wrong."

Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, played referee, attempting to assuage concerns the Daniels administration might try to exert too much influence over the new forecast, which will determine the shape of the next budget.

"I think we all need to be comfortable with this process," Kenley said.

The Indiana General Assembly failed to pass a budget prior to its April 29 adjournment deadline. The current spending plan expires June 30.

The new revenue forecast ordered Tuesday will be released May 26. Daniels is set to present his spending plan to the State Budget Committee on June 1, and he is expected to call all 150 lawmakers back to the Statehouse around June 15.

Every five-day week of special session will cost taxpayers about $75,000 in lawmaker per diems and mileage to the Capitol.