AUGUSTA – Legislative negotiators reached tentative agreement Sunday on a multi-part bond package worth about $290 million, according to Democratic and Republican sources and members of the State House lobby tracking the talks.

Speaking on condition of anonymity while private discussions among lawmakers and the Baldacci administration continued, the sources said negotiators were still attempting to find common ground on how to divide the total amount among various areas.

A key concern, sources said, was how much of a package that size, if approved by state voters at one or more referendums, would go toward transportation projects – a high priority for all involved.

Last month, Democratic Gov. John Baldacci outlined a two-stage bond package worth just under $400 million, proposing to seek voter approval for part in June and part in November.

About $131 million of his original proposal would go for transportation-related projects and another $131 million would go for business investment and research and development.

More than $97 million would be borrowed to promote environmental initiatives, including $20 million for wastewater construction grants and $35 million for the Land for Maine’s Future acquisition program.

The original Baldacci package also would raise $38 million for education-related expenditures. Funding for campus infrastructure upgrades would be split with $16.5 million for the University of Maine System, $14.5 million for the Maine Community College System and $2 million for Maine Maritime Academy, administration officials said.

Republican leaders had proposed $200 million in bonding, with $180 million going to repairs of roads and bridges and $20 million to improve sewer systems and water quality.

Legislative leaders have said action by the full Legislature is needed soon if any bond proposal is to be put before voters in June.

A scheduled Appropriations Committee was put off for hours Sunday as closed-door talks involving ranking Democrats and Republicans went on.

The Baldacci administration was also working Sunday to develop budget revisions in response to recent downward revenue projections issued by a special state panel.

The state’s Revenue Forecasting Committee said a week ago General Fund revenue for the rest of the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, will be almost $34 million less than expected. At the same time, the panel reduced its revenue forecast for the subsequent two years by another $40 million.