By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill. – Governor Rod Blagojevich says Illinois residents should know he did not want to close seven state parks and a dozen historic sites, but he needed to make the cuts to balance the budget.
Blagojevich put out the statement Sunday, as the facilities were about to close.
The governor said the closings had to happen to offset a $2 billion budget deficit.
Blagojevich said he would "continue to take steps to reduce the shortfall so that Illinois has a budget that works."
Blagojevich announced a long list of park and historic site closures in August, along with other state layoffs.
Last week he agreed to restore some money, including funds to keep four of the originally targeted 11 parks open.