AUGUSTA (AP) -Legislative budget writers Wednesday resumed their review of ways to realize a final $10.1 million in savings envisioned in the state budget.

Taking tentative votes in a slow process slated to continue Thursday, the panel deadlocked on one proposal worth $1.6 million annually that would reduce some lottery agent commissions.

According to state officials, the average retailer commission in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Delaware and New Jersey is 5 percent, in Connecticut 5.54 percent and in Vermont 5.85 percent, while Maine offers an 8 percent commission on instant lottery tickets and a 5 percent commission for on-line lottery tickets.

The proposal by the Baldacci administration for the state’s Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations would set a commission of 7 percent on instant lottery ticket sales in Maine.

Following discussion over the potential impact on small stores, the Appropriations Committee voted 5-5 with three members absent and the matter was set aside.

Another Baldacci administration proposal worth an estimated $27,360 annually would eliminate little-used landline telephones within state government offices.

State officials say there are more than 3,500 state-provided cellular phones, with many assigned to employees who generally work away from an office or desk. The proposal would eliminate desktop phones for workers who have both a state-provided desk phone and cell phone, who have a low volume of call minutes on their desk phone and who have good cellular coverage in their office.

The administration said cost savings were based on the removal of 200 phone lines at an average cost of $360 per line.

Savings to the General Fund were calculated at 38 percent of total savings, the administration said, adding that other funds – federal, special revenue and Highway Fund – represent 62 percent of total savings.

In June, Maine lawmakers enacted a $6.3 billion biennial budget package, setting spending priorities for the next two years. Final passage in the House of Representatives came on a vote of 112-29 and in the Senate the vote was 28-7.

The biennial budget covers the two years that began July 1. The Appropriations panel began soliciting ideas for a last $10.1 million in savings in midsummer and is due to put a recommendation before the full Legislature after the House and Senate reconvene in January.

AP-ES-10-17-07 1716EDT