It shouldn’t be any great surprise, but state government caseloads are growing during this lingering awful recession –  and there a price to be paid, roughly $250 million.  That could well force a new round of budgetary belt-tightening in the 2010 legislative session. 

The nonpartisan state Caseload Forecast Council has released new projections that show more demand for Medicaid and children’s heath coverage, the welfare program called General Assistance-Unemployable (GAU), and nursing home care.

This follows a recent downgrade of the state revenue forecast by nearly $500 million.

GovGreg, who has already directed agencies to trim their payroll costs by 2 percent, is sending word to directors that yet another round of belt-tightening could be required when lawmakers convene this winter.