By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill – State officials are preparing to keep state government from shutting down if leaders can't end the budget impasse.
Governor Blagojevich and the four legislative leaders still haven't come to an agreement and the July 1 start of the new budget year is just two weeks away.
House Democrats have spent the last two days in committee hearings asking state agencies to submit their "bare bones" funding needs for next year. Those agencies complain they're already under serious cuts and services could suffer if more cuts are made.
The governor's office is putting its own contingency plan together.
Both sides say they're still hopeful leaders can hammer out a full budget agreement by the end of the month.
But they say the backup plan is needed to ensure things run smoothly in the meantime.