MONTGOMERY (AP) — Two House leaders who met privately with Alabama’s governor say they expect him to declare proration of about 12 percent in the state General Fund budget soon.

House Speaker Seth Hammett and House budget committee Chairman John Knight met with Gov. Bob Riley on Thursday. Afterward, Hammett said the governor “is definitely going to have to declare proration.”

Knight and Hammett says the Legislature is wrapping up work on a bill appropriating extra money for Medicaid and prisons to shield them from most of the impact of proration. Once that is complete, they expect the governor to make across-the-board cuts official.

The governor told reporters Thursday that he doesn’t expect to decide about proration until after the Legislature takes off next week for spring break.