Gov. Ed Rendell and state legislators haggled over the state budget for 10 months. The state budget impasse delayed millions of dollars in funding for human service agencies and school districts in Butler County.

The Legislature eventually passed a new budget of nearly $28 billion on Sept. 18. It was supposed to have been approved by July 1. The Legislature is still trying to approve a table games bill, which would expand gambling in the state and add to the tax revenue for state government.

If this table games bill is not passed by early January, Rendell has said he will lay off more state workers.