The budget fell steadily until dropping as low as $ 2.93 billion in 1998 and has gradually risen to $ 3.27 billion for fiscal 2002 .

It fell steadily until it dropped as low as $ 2.93 billion in 1998 and rose gradually to $ 3.27 billion for fiscal 2002 .

Select from the options at the end. Do the above sentences mean the same thing?
Available options: (a). no; (b). yes;
(b).