AUGUSTA (AP) – The Baldacci administration and other backers of a controversial school system consolidation plan made last-minute pitches for support while legislative critics continued to consult on one or more alternatives one day in advance of full-fledged debate on a $6.3 billion two-year state budget package.

Effectively needing super-majorities of at least two-thirds in the House of Representatives and Senate for passage, Baldacci administration officials said Monday they believed House votes they could expect numbered in the 90s – within reach of the required 101.

Others said the situation remained fluid as the House late Monday afternoon set the stage for debate and consideration of amendments by giving the budget initial approval.

Asked to describe sentiment within the House Republican caucus, GOP Rep. John Robinson of Raymond said, “I think they’re pretty much still struggling with the education consolidation piece.”

Absent that policy matter, which carries a savings estimated of $36.5 million, “They feel this was a fiscally responsible budget. … I think there’s consensus there,” said Robinson, a member of the Republican minority on the Appropriations Committee that joined with Democrats to unanimously recommend budget enactment.

Some of the most outspoken critics of the budget package’s school plan met once again in a gathering of the so-called rural caucus to restate their concerns and discuss options.

Some consolidation plan opponents favor booking the estimated savings now but would put off final decisions on policy changes until next year to allow more time for study and debate.

Others have been eyeing a watered-down version – looser timelines, lesser penalties for non-compliance – of the plan incorporated in the budget by the Appropriations Committee.

Baldacci’s original proposal was to establish 26 regional education units, a significant reduction from Maine’s current 152 school administrative systems.

The revised plan prepared for inclusion in the budget envisions 80 units, based on desired student populations of at least 2,500. Exceptions would be available, but stiff sanctions could face non-complying communities.

Local reorganization plans would be subject to voter approval. Units that vote against reorganization would face penalties starting on July 1, 2009, including a loss of minimum subsidies, an increase in required mill rates and less favorable consideration in approval and funding for school construction projects.

Speaking out at a State House news conference Monday in support of the Appropriations package was an ad hoc coalition of business groups led by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Pulp and Paper Association and the Maine Hospitality and Tourism Alliance.

The message was simple: The committee’s reworked version of the original Baldacci budget avoids broad-based tax increases and continues support for a popular program with business – the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement system.

“Since the business community doesn’t hesitate to tell the governor and Legislature when we disapprove of their actions, we owe them our support when they do the right thing,” John Williams, president of the Maine Pulp and Paper Association, said in a statement. “This bipartisan budget and school district reorganization is a remarkable achievement.”

On Jan. 5, the governor unveiled a $6.4 billion two-year spending blueprint.

Containing no broad-based tax increases, the plan was designed to substantially boost funding for K-12 education, as required by law, while drastically reducing local layers of school system administration.

Since scrapped, a major component of the original package was a proposal to raise the state tax on a pack of cigarettes by one dollar, producing $66 million a year and bringing the tax to $3.

Five months later, the revised budget package relies on about $130 million of savings to be taken in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Also dropped from the governor’s original plan was the creation of a new Department of Commerce combining the existing departments of Economic and Community Development and of Professional and Financial Regulation.

Despite a relatively recently inserted interruption, the budget is designed to increase the state’s share of basic local education funding to 55 percent by state fiscal year 2009.

No longer included, as originally proposed by the governor, are an increase in student class sizes consistent with national norms and an extension of the student laptop program through high school.

The 833-page budget documents addresses a vast array of policies and programs.

One part increases the required number of qualifying contributions for Maine Clean Election Act gubernatorial candidates from 2,500 to 3,250, and authorizes the transfer of $700,000 to the Maine Clean Election Fund on Sept. 1, 2008, instead of a $2 million transfer to be made on Jan. 1, 2009.

Another part eliminates from the list of major policy influencing positions the Forest Insect Manager position in the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Forestry.

The budget would continue to delay an increase in state-municipal revenue sharing from 5.1 percent to 5.2 percent from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2009. It would also alter the formula for individuals reporting use tax by increasing the percentage of Maine adjusted gross income from 0.04 percent to 0.08 percent.

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