AUGUSTA – Even as lawmakers were packing up to go home late Friday night, Gov. John E. Baldacci was considering calling the Legislature back for a second special session at the end of the month to approve a bond package for the November ballot.

The potential closing or downsizing of three military installations in the state and negotiations over revisions to the state’s $5.7 billion budget passed in March have dominated the political agenda at the State House for the last several weeks.

That left little time for Republicans and majority Democrats to focus on bond discussions.

All general obligation bond proposals require two-thirds support in the House and Senate, underscoring the need to bring minority Republicans on board early as the size and priorities of the bond package are sketched out.

“We need to have the Republican leadership commit to a bond package, which they have,” Baldacci said. “Then we can begin the process.”

The governor initially proposed a bond package of around $197 million. But after the base closure list was announced, Baldacci said the size of the borrowing proposal may have to be curtailed.

The governor said Friday he was willing to work with Republicans on the plan because of the critical impact the funding will have on improving the state’s infrastructure.

“These are capital investments, this isn’t paying for groceries,” Baldacci said. “This is research and development, this is land, air and water and roads and bridges. Hopefully, (Republicans) will appreciate that we are repealing $450 million in borrowing (in the budget) that eliminates that debt-to-revenue ratio and frees up capacity (for borrowing). So let’s make investments.”

Baldacci and legislative leaders are currently considering June 30 as the possible date for a second special session to take up the bond proposal.

During the same meeting, lawmakers may also revisit a major tax reform package reported out of the Taxation Committee earlier this month. The House voted Friday to recommit the bill to the Taxation Committee for further revisions.