Wisconsin now operating without a budget

(AP) The budget deal in Wisconsin fell apart over an issue dogging many states these days — how to pay to fix and improve crumbling roads.

Dwindling collections from the state's gas tax and vehicle registration fees have left a $1 billion hole in the two-year, $76 billion spending plan Wisconsin was supposed to have in place Friday.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker wants to borrow $500 million and delay some projects to save money. Some Republicans want to borrow even more and the GOP discussed a new heavy truck fee to raise $250 million, but that appears to be dead along with any discussion of raising the gas tax with Walker considering running for a third term next year.

As the budget year started most places Saturday, 11 states did not have budgets in place, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers.

The states without a budget on July 1 are Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, while in Pennsylvania and Michigan the budget has passed the Legislature and is on the governor's desk.