$6.2-Billion Bond Pact Falls Apart : Public works: State leaders disagree on ballot dates for construction proposal. Speaker believes new accord will be reached before deadline.

A preliminary agreement to seek voter approval of $6.2 billion in bonds to help get the California economy moving has come unraveled, requiring Gov. Pete Wilson and legislative leaders to start negotiations over, Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) announced Tuesday.

But Brown also said a new agreement would be reached before a March 7 ballot deadline imposed by Secretary of State March Fong Eu.

At the same time, the Assembly leader predicted an even “worse” state budget battle this year than last year. He urged the governor to call for closed-door legislative leadership meetings starting next week.

On the bond question, Brown said that “we thought we had a proposed solution, but now it’s back to the drawing board.”

Wilson and legislative leaders agreed earlier to place on the June ballot $1.9 billion in bonds to finance public school construction, $900 million for higher education buildings, and $50 million for construction of child care facilities.

Agreement was reached also on $3.4 billion in bonds for the November ballot, covering construction costs for housing, new prisons, county jails and money for flood control, water and forestry projects.

But Brown said Senate President Pro Tem David Roberti (D-Los Angeles) now wants the $325 million in housing bonds to go on the June ballot instead of the November ballot.

“That’s true,” said Roberti press secretary Bob Forsythe. “(Roberti) does want that. He feels we must move as quickly as possible to create jobs.” One of the criticisms at the time of the initial agreement between the legislative leaders and the governor was that bond-funded projects would move too slowly to help the economy, particularly those waiting until November for ballot approval.

Other sources blamed the breakdown on a combination of factors, including other differences over the proposed housing, prison and parks bond issues.

Brown said that while he foresaw conflict over the budget, he expected agreement with Wilson over parts of the governor’s proposed ballot measure calling for welfare cuts and reforms.

He said some Assembly Democrats could support restrictions on aid to new residents, a cap on total benefits and benefit cutbacks for able-bodied recipients who refuse job offers. Brown added, however, he expected the Democrats to come up with their own “good government plan of what is appropriate to reform the welfare system.”