SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois officials can’t agree on a real budget, so they decided Thursday to approve a one-month budget extension to keep state government operating in July.

The current budget expires June 30, but state leaders have failed to come up with a new spending plan for the next fiscal year. If the deadlock drags on too long, the state might not be able to pay its employees or deliver services.

In the first sign of movement after weeks of bickering, Gov. Rod Blagojevich and legislative leaders agreed to work on a temporary budget. They’ll work out the details over the weekend and pass it next week.

“Today, we actually made a little bit of progress,” the Democratic governor said in his first public appearance in weeks. “We actually finally agreed on something.”

One risk with the plan is that it removes the pressure for officials to reach a compromise. That could mean the deadlock over a long-term budget drags on all summer.

“It’s a possibility,” acknowledged House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. “If things continue the way they have been, I think the odds are great.”

Blagojevich said Thursday’s agreement allows for budget negotiations to “begin anew.” He said a budget proposal approved by the Illinois House has been rejected by Senate Democrats and even some House Democrats, so that proposal should be considered dead.

But there was no evidence of new attitudes toward the budget.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, pointedly said his budget proposal is still the only one to pass either legislative chamber. Blagojevich would not answer reporters’ questions about the budget, but spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said he remains committed to a massive health care proposal that many lawmakers consider too expensive.

Even the idea of a temporary budget still could fall apart.

Officials, particularly the Democrats who dominate state government, have been sniping at each other for weeks and making no visible progress toward a real budget. Their differences could spill over to the details of the one-month budget, such as whether to pay for all services or just key operations.

Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, didn’t sound optimistic about a quick end to the legislative session that already has gone three weeks into overtime.

“As long as we stay here, we’ll get it done,” he said. “Eventually.”