![Dayton Administration Starts Shutdown Preparations](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2011/02/mark_dayton_official_250x200.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Dayton Administration Starts Shutdown Preparations
ST. PAUL (AP) - State agency commissioners in the administration of Gov. Mark Dayton are preparing for a possible state government shutdown in case the governor and legislative Republicans can't settle on a state budget by the end of June.
Dayton discussed the issue Thursday in a Cabinet meeting. State budget director Jim Showalter says agency heads were told to begin preparing lists of which state employees and functions they consider "essential" in a shutdown.
Showalter says the top priorities are to continue protecting the safety and health of citizens. A court will ultimately decide what's essential.
A shutdown would likely leave tens of thousands of state workers without paychecks and result in the closing of state parks, a temporary halt to expensive highway construction projects and other noticeable consequences.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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