Possible service disruptions and employee layoffs are coming into focus as Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Legislature struggle to finish a new state budget.

One aspirational deadline after another has been missed. Even as state leaders stay upbeat about everything coming together, they’re also going through the steps to plan for the potential they won’t.

It could all be resolved soon — maybe even this weekend — if the final pieces fall into place and Walz summons the Legislature back to the Capitol to take votes.

Still, Walz said his agencies have started to work through what they’d need to do if funding isn’t approved. Budgets for everything from state parks operations to highway workers to vehicle and driver’s licensing haven’t been set.

“They have the contingencies,” Walz said Wedn

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