ALBANY - Tax cuts and measures to create upstate jobs are on the agenda for the Legislature's scheduled return Oct. 22, but no agreements are near as negotiations continue between Assembly and Senate leaders.

The Senate's Republican majority seeks approval on a capital budget that could result in borrowing $1 billion over several years for public construction projects.

Supporters say it will spur the upstate economy by funding construction at colleges and on public works. Critics call it pork-barrel spending because lawmakers will be able to choose the projects in their districts.

The Senate majority will also push its $200 million property tax break for senior citizens, a package of business tax cuts aimed at spurring upstate growth, and greater tuition assistance for college students and their families.

The Assembly's Democratic majority wants the capital construction fund, easing of the requirements of the Wick's Law that drives up the cost of public construction and changes to make the state's economic development grants to attract and retain employers fairer and more accountable.

Not on their public agenda but still alive is a possible pay raise for lawmakers and state judges, one of several measures that failed to gain agreement in the regular session that ended in June.

But that doesn't mean all these issues will be aired in floor debates.

In Albany, most deals aren't struck in open sessions, but in closed-door negotiations and in private party caucuses.

So far, there are few agreements following a summer of discord because of a scandal that pitted Senate Republican leader Joseph Bruno against Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Bruno had accused Spitzer aides of political espionage, and a Senate investigations committee and the state Public Integrity Commission continue to investigate.

On Tuesday, the Senate's Republican majority announced that it would postpone hearings on some of Spitzer's nominees that require Senate confirmation.

Bruno spokesman Mark Hansen said Spitzer submitted too many nominees for confirmation in the last, hectic days of the regular session that ended in June leaving no time for careful consideration.

But the lack of confirmation of Spitzer's choice for chairman of the State University of New York Board of Trustees, former Regents Chancellor Carl Hayden, has held up SUNY's search for a new chancellor.

The Senate also hasn't confirmed Spitzer's choice as a new SUNY board member, former Democratic Comptroller H. Carl McCall.