AUGUSTA (AP) – Gov. John Baldacci, recuperating from a fall in which he broke three ribs, met with three senior aides Thursday at his Blaine House residence, where he is expected to work through the end of the week.

Aides said topics included revenue and the state budget, as well as possible further options for tax relief following last month’s enactment of school funding legislation.

“He looks a lot better than he did yesterday,” said Lee Umphrey, one of the administration staff members who participated in the governor’s morning briefing.

“He’s moving slowly,” said Martha Freeman, director of the Maine State Planning Office.

Another staff meeting with Baldacci, who was said to have slipped on ice outside his home early Wednesday, was planned Thursday afternoon.

The governor’s public schedule had been cleared for the rest of the week but he was on the phone Thursday.

State House activity, which has been unusually heavy in recent weeks, reached a bit of a lull on the same day Baldacci was hurt.

Brief legislative sessions were held Wednesday in the Senate and House of Representatives, but the chambers were slated to remain empty until Tuesday while a group of lawmakers traveled to several parts of the state to get a firsthand look at the state of the Maine economy.

A number of committees, however, were still holding meetings. The Appropriations panel, which has been scrutinizing Baldacci budget proposals, is expected to extend its work into the weekend.

A new Baldacci administration report said General Fund revenue in January was slightly better than anticipated, above projections by $941,515 or 0.4 percent. That put a year-to-date surplus for the first seven months of the fiscal year at $6.6 million, 0.4 percent over estimate, officials said.

Sales and income tax revenue, which total about four-fifths of General Fund revenue, ran ahead of budget through January by only $1.5 million combined, according to the report.

For consumers, the report said, “it appears that high home heating oil prices are taking their toll.”

The same monthly report said Highway Fund revenue topped estimates by 3.4 percent – $836,712 – in January, bringing a year-to-date surplus to $4.9 million, or 3 percent.

Copy the Story Link