Gov. Baldacci returns to State House

AUGUSTA – Feeling a little sore but anxious to diminish concern over his accident, Gov. John E. Baldacci returned Friday to his State House office. The governor broke three ribs Wednesday during a fall off some icy steps at the governor’s mansion.

Baldacci was able to sign off Friday on some last-minute changes to his $60 million supplemental budget that corrects accounts in the state’s current fiscal year tax-and-spending plan. The revisions were presented to the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

“I feel pretty good,” the governor said while sitting in his favorite rocking chair. “I’ve been fortunate; my wife has taken very good care of me. Both her and my son have watched over me and have been very helpful.”

Baldacci now only has to rely on over-the-counter pain relievers for any discomfort he may experience during his expected six-week recovery schedule. Joking he still maintains a healthy degree of respect for “the ides of March,” he said he has been through worse Februarys. A year ago, he suffered a fractured rib in an accident when his state trooper chauffeur lost control of a sport utility vehicle on an icy section of Interstate 295.

“I’ve been through this before,” the governor said. “February has been a good month, really. I didn’t hit my head … didn’t get any lasting marks. And it’s one of the shortest months of the year, so I think I’m on the downhill side of this thing.”

Baldacci has received numerous expressions and gifts of support during his recovery, including a cane with a horn and a rear-view mirror attached, and a pair of studded, ice-walking shoes from a Biddeford company. He cautioned all Mainers to be careful during February and March when temperatures can fluctuate wildly.

“It changes so fast, you’ve got rain one minute and ice and snow the next,” he said. “I’m going to be a lot more careful, too.”

Early Friday afternoon, Baldacci’s chief finance officer, Rebecca Wyke, presented some minor changes to the governor’s supplemental budget request that actually reduced the overall package by $4.5 million to $55.5 million. The reduction was authorized after it became clear the administration had a surplus in the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement account that compensates businesses for local property tax payments.

Wyke said a number of businesses that were expected to file for relief simply ignored the state deadline and have since become ineligible for compensation.

“At this point we have now processed all the BETR applications that were filed by December 31 and, as a result, we have been able to reduce the amount of the shortfall by $4.5 million,” she said.

Members of the Appropriations Committee are expected to review the supplemental budget request next week as they continue deliberations on bonds and the governor’s proposal for the next two-year budget cycle.