The Congressional Budget Office estimated earlier this month that the surplus would total $2.9 trillion over the next decade.

Members of both parties said they had been told that the surplus would total about $5.6 trillion over 10 years starting in 2002.

Last year, the surplus totaled $1 billion.

In the two years, the surplus totaled about $3 million.

The surplus, not adjusted for seasonal factors, totaled $4.74 billion, down from $7.4 billion in November 1986.

Experts contend that the surplus could total as much as $2 billion by March 31, when the state's 1998-99 fiscal year ends.

He estimated the surplus would total about $94 million at the end of the year.

Aides said this year's surplus could total more than $200 million in a budget of $29 billion for the fiscal year that ends on June 30.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the surplus next year will total $268 billion.