AUGUSTA – State lawmakers, mixing soaring flights of rhetoric with soaring flights of paper airplanes, formally adjourned this year’s regular legislative session shortly before dawn Saturday.

But that doesn’t mean their chores are done.

Already a host of notable achievements has been recorded.

“I don’t want to engage in hyperbole, but the health care initiative dwarfs everything,” said Democratic Sen. Michael Brennan of Portland.

The House and Senate are expected to reconvene in two weeks to take up a matter that has defied answers thus far: statewide tax reform.

Most recently, the Taxation Committee has been divided over two revised versions of Gov. John Baldacci’s proposal for a state tax system overhaul.

Both versions seek to accomplish what a looming referendum question backed by the Maine Municipal Association also promises – an increase in the state’s share of local education costs to 55 percent.

Discussions among various parties would precede a special session.

That could be held on June 27, “if there’s been an agreement reached,” said Senate President Beverly Daggett, D-Augusta.

House Speaker Patrick Colwell, D-Gardiner, expressed optimism over the Taxation Committee’s chances of striking a deal.

“We think that if we send the thing back, we can continue the kind of bipartisan work we’ve accomplished so far,” he said.

Still up in the air is a new state borrowing initiative. In the waning hours of the regular session, bipartisanship on that front failed to take hold.

With negotiations between Democrats and Republicans at an impasse, the Appropriations Committee split along party lines before adjournment on a three-piece Democratic bonding proposal worth $93.8 million.

The elements included a $58.3 million transportation bond designed to raise $34.1 million for highways and bridges, a $23 million education and cultural bond that would target $10 million for the state’s community colleges, and a $12.5 million parks and environmental bond.

At a brief Appropriations Committee meeting late Friday night, members said little.

“It’s not worthy of discussion at all. No disrespect intended,” said Republican Sen. Karl Turner of Cumberland.

“Six to 5, it passes,” said Democratic Rep. Joseph Brannigan of Portland, the panel’s House chairman. “Now we’ll see what happens.”

Republican negotiators had been arguing for an aggregate borrowing amount closer to $80 million. GOP House leader Joe Bruno of Raymond issued a statement asserting that adopting the higher figure would be “breaking the bank.”

Another showdown occurred a couple of hours later as the session wound down. Just before 1 a.m., a bid to extend legislative term limits failed in the Senate. The House had rejected an extension previously and the bill was placed in the legislative dead files.

Baldacci, who would be the one to summon lawmakers back to the State House for the special session, is expected to hold a bill-signing ceremony to mark the enactment of the Dirigo Health plan on Wednesday.