Budget Chiefs Scheduled to Return for Late Sunday Afternoon Meeting

As legislators enter the final week on the calendar for the regular 60-day session, the budget chiefs have narrowed the areas they need to smooth out to education and health and human services.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, and House Appropriations Chair Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, are scheduled to meet again at 6 p.m. Sunday in 212 Knott Building.

If they want to complete the budget on time, they have until Tuesday to hammer out differences in the mostly identical approximately $70 billion funding packages that have been put together by the separate chambers.

The state Constitution requires a 72-hour waiting period to be held between the completion of the final fiscal plan and members of both chambers voting on the package.