ST. PAUL, MN-- Governor Tim Pawlenty says getting a property

tax cap that would reduce projected increases by at least 100

million dollars a year remains the key to an overall budget

agreement.

And he's threatening to oppose the Central Corridor light rail

project and other DFL priorities without a deal.

A Pawlenty spokesman says talks between the GOP governor and DFL

legislative leaders began at 5:15 p.m. and recessed before 7 p.m. on Sunday

while other officials continued discussions.

Late Sunday night, the governor wrote to Senate Majority Leader Larry

Pogemiller and House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. He said he

wanted their commitment on the cap before negotiating other major

elements of a budget deal.

Earlier in the night, Kelliher and Pogemiller wrote to Pawlenty

saying they had made "numerous attempts" to accommodate his

concerns, and that they thought they were "relatively close" to

agreement.