The drama that was the special session of the state Legislature came to a close Tuesday night as a two-year budget was passed by both the House and Senate, ending speculation of a state government shutdown.

The budget debate left many representatives, including District 63 Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Jasper, waiting until Tuesday afternoon to vote for the budget. The Legislature has been in special session since June 11 after it could not come to an agreed budget during the regular session.

Messmer said Monday night that after a meeting of the 48 House Republicans, all were ready to vote for the proposed budget.

According to the Associated Press, the vote in the house was 62-37, with Messmer voting for the budget compromise. The Senate vote was much closer on the $27.8 billion bill.

“(The special session) has been very challenging and you have to be very patient,” Messmer said. “It’s a shame that back in April, we couldn’t get this agreed on.”

The freshman legislator said he wasn’t sure if there would be a budget passed by Tuesday’s midnight deadline, until he was in caucus with fellow House Republicans on Monday.

“In reality, up until (Monday), I was almost certain they would have a shutdown,” Messmer said.

One of the sticking points in budget negotiations was a possible decrease in funding for urban and rural schools due to stagnant enrollment. Messmer said that most schools in his district, including rural schools like Barr-Reeve and Northeast Dubois, should not see their funding cut in the new budget.

“We received an estimated run and (schools) look to be getting 1 to 2 percent in extra revenue,” Messmer said.

Also helping will be an additional $8 million a year for those smaller schools that will be added into the school funding formula.

Messmer did vote for the budget, as did District 45 Rep. Bruce Borders, R-Jasonville.

Dist. 64 Kreg Battles, D-Vincennes, along with Dist. 62 Rep. Sandra Blanton, D-Orleans, voted against the budget.

In the Senate, Sens. Lindel Hume, D-Princeton, Richard Young, D-Milltown and John Waterman, R-Shelburn, voted for the budget.

Although a budget compromise did happen, Daviess County judges Greg Smith and Dean Sobecki did not take a promised compromise for granted. Before the House voted Tuesday afternoon, the two judges issued a press release saying they would remain working even though they would not be paid for it during a possible state shutdown.

Pay for judges and their staff come from a combination of state and county revenue.