AUGUSTA (AP) – Maine’s top legislative leaders sounded optimistic Thursday that a special tax-reform committee will finish its work – with unanimous or near-unanimous agreement – by the deadline looming a week away.

But the leaders also acknowledged there are major issues still to be ironed out by a 15-member committee that’s reviewing Gov. John Baldacci’s legislation to hold down property taxes through spending and tax caps, refunds and increases in public school aid.

The Select Committee on Property Tax Reform faces a deadline Friday to agree on general provisions of the bill so it can vote on specific language a week later. Leaders want to complete work on Jan. 20.

Meanwhile, a group of about three dozen Maine business and policy leaders who formed the Coalition for Reasonable Tax Relief for Maine said Baldacci’s bill does not go far enough to limit government spending, and proposed more stringent caps.