State agencies merger on back burner

fund the $32 billion budget they approved. The merger issue has taken a backseat to broader disagreements over taxes and revenue sources.

Representatives for the governor and legislative leaders say an agency unification still could happen at some point, if not in the near-term.

“To date, the General Assembly has not moved on passage of the mergers. While we are hopeful that changes, the governor will continue to manage the budget to ensure services are delivered effectively, and has a team in place to realize the savings assumed in the General Appropriations bill passed in June,” said a statement Thursday from J.J. Abbott, Mr. Wolf’s spokesman.

“It’s certainly still something we believe could be considered, but as we have said all along, it’s not something we think can be rushed,” said Jennifer Kocher, a spokeswoman for Senate Republicans.

“If we can get this done next year, we’re going to try,” said Steve Miskin, a spokesmanfor House Republicans.