Sen. Lorraine Berry, chair of the Finance Committee, opened the twice re-scheduled budget hearings Wednesday, only to announce that the revised budget from the Turnbull administration had not arrived.
But, Berry said, with delivery of the documents now expected Tuesday afternoon, she would begin again at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Management and Budget Director Ira Mills released a statement Tuesday morning blaming a faulty computer system for the delay.
"To be fair to all concerned and as a courtesy to my colleagues who would have to have the opportunity to peruse the budget and also the post auditor to at least be able to prepare a preliminary analysis of the proposed revised budget," Berry said before aborting the meeting, "we felt after speaking to my colleagues on the Finance Committee and the (Senate) president that it would be in the best interest of all concerned to move forward tomorrow morning with a consolidated budget hearing."
Budget hearings, first scheduled for July 27, were postponed first on Aug. 4 when the Senate's post auditor said some $200 million in revenue projections were unrealistic.
With hearings set to begin Aug. 24, the revisions were to have been delivered to the Finance Committee by Aug. 17. Administration officials later assured Berry they would arrive by Aug. 23.
Berry said her committee would hold an extended session Wednesday to make up for some of the time lost by the fourth delay in the start of the FY 2000 budget hearings.
