HARRISBURG — A spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell says his hands are tied when it comes to giving homeowners more time to apply for residential property tax cuts financed by taxes on slot-machine gambling.

Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma said Wednesday the March 1 deadline is set by law and cannot be unilaterally changed by the governor.

Tuma said Rendell also has no direct control over the counties that administer the homestead-exclusion program.

Earlier Wednesday, state Auditor General Jack Wagner urged Rendell to issue an executive order extending the deadline to April 15.