This is the first in a series of posts to help keep you in the loop as the swirl of rumors, the raucous horse trading, and the slight of hand known as the Albany budget process kicks into high gear. (Hat tip to our friends for providing this valuble info and ground-truthing the gossip from the rumor mill.)

Here's what we know:

• The assembly passed its budget last night; the senate is still working on it. Joint conference committee meetings are scheduled to start today and end by March 23 in time for the April 1 budget deadline.
  

• There appears to be agreement on an increased EPF from the current $225 million but not on the efforts to update the bottle bill. The assembly added $10 million to the governor's proposal, bringing the EPF to $260 million, while the senate is at $250 million (same as Governor Spitzer).

• Also, in the senate budget proposal, the DEC personnel lines seem to be cut by $5.6 million across multiple programs, as part of some $6.9 million in total DEC cuts to the govnernor's proposed $495 million DEC state operations and aid to localities budget.