Ark. legislature

Arkansas lawmakers officially ended the state's first-ever fiscal session with little fanfare on Thursday, as legislative leaders said they were warily eyeing the state's budget in the coming months.

The House and Senate convened quickly to formally adjourn the session, which recessed last week. It was the first fiscal session under a 2008 constitutional amendment requiring the Legislature to meet and budget annually.

During the session, which lasted less than three weeks, lawmakers approved the state's $4.5 billion spending plan and legislation setting amounts for lottery-funded scholarships. The Legislature will return for its regular session in January.

"I think there's some cautious optimism out there," said Sen. Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro, who will serve as the Senate's president in the 2011 session. "In the previous session (in 2009) we were in the black by a substantial margin. It's probably pretty unrealistic to think we'll be anywhere close to that next time."

Lawmakers didn't attempt an override of the only veto Gov. Mike Beebe issued from the session. Beebe rejected legislation that would have taken money from the fund that finances constitutional officers to pay the cost of redistricting.

The legislators had rejected Beebe's proposal to borrow money from their fund for local projects to pay for redistricting before approving taking the money from the Central Services Fund, which finances the constitutional offices and several other agencies. Bookout said he believed the Legislature could find a source for the redistricting money when it returns in January, and that much of the money wasn't needed until then.

Lawmakers offered mixed reviews of the fiscal session, which was intended to primarily focus on budget issues. During the session the Legislature also approved funding $5,000 scholarships to four-year schools and $2,500 scholarships to two-year schools with net lottery revenues.

Senate President Bob Johnson has said he's skeptical of the value of annual sessions, but the incoming House speaker said he saw some benefits.

"We are in a term-limited environment and (with) part-time legislators there is so much information we deal with especially with the budget, this gave all the members the opportunity to come in and be a part of the budgetary process and the knowledge gained will benefit the citizens of Arkansas as we go into the general session," said Rep. Robert Moore, who was elected House speaker for 2011 on Thursday.

The Senate's brief activity included a farewell address of sorts from Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who is forgoing a re-election bid to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the May primary.

Halter, who said it would be his last presiding over the 35-member Senate unless a special session is called, told senators he appreciated working with them and thanked them for their service.

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Associated Press Writer Sheila Ellis contributed to this report.