12:51 PM EST on Thursday, January 26, 2006

BY SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE -- It looks like Governor Carcieri still needs more time to complete his budget for the upcoming year.

State law requires the governor to unveil his tax-and-spending plan by the third Thursday in January, but last week the Democrat-controlled General Assembly decided to give the Republican governor a one-week extension to today. Carcieri wanted two weeks.

So will the governor present his budget to lawmakers today?

"We are still hoping to get an extension until next week," said Carcieri's spokesman, Jeff Neal.

If that extension is not granted, Neal said, "we will submit the budget as quickly as possible."

Asked to explain, Neal said: "It is not a defined time frame."

Does that mean the governor is going to defy state law with a late budget?

"We are hoping to work with lawmakers to resolve this question," was all Neal would say.

In each of his past three budget years, Carcieri has received an extension from the General Assembly, but never exceeded the new deadline.

There is no penalty under state law for a tardy budget.

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