AUGUSTA – Legislative budget writers Wednesday reviewed a variety of proposed reductions in human services programs during a third day of public hearings on Gov. John Baldacci’s Part 2 spending blueprint.

In favorable economic times, a Part 2 budget package would be developed to fund new and expanded programs.

The Baldacci plan now before the Appropriations Committee does include new revenue to cover some hiring and other expenditures that were not addressed in the $5.3 billion current services budget that has already been enacted.

But primarily, the Baldacci package is meant to offset a $48 million revenue gap recently diagnosed for the two-year budget cycle that begins July 1.

The original administration proposal, which may still be refined, would shrink human services accounts by more than $2 million – but without affecting program eligibility, according to officials.

A number of elements drew criticism or raised questions Wednesday, including proposed cuts in the clothing allowance for foster children.

Also coming under fire was a proposed $600,000 decrease in money to be used to evaluate the state’s anti-smoking efforts.

“The tobacco control program saves the state money every day,” the Appropriations panel was told in testimony submitted on behalf of Dr. Jo Linder, the chairman of the Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health.

The Appropriations public hearings are slated to continue Thursday, with reports back from other legislative panels on specific subject areas expected Friday.

Work sessions will be held next week, with proposed cuts in mental health programs shaping up as one major point of contention.

Also sure to draw scrutiny is Baldacci’s proposal to revamp an emergency state reserve fund with an eye toward linking future state expenditures to levels of personal income.

Under the Baldacci plan, future budgets would tie spending growth to a 10-year moving average of real personal income growth.