State offices in area prepared to shut down

Indiana's state agencies, including ones with facilities in Jackson County, are preparing for a possible government shutdown at midnight today if the Indiana General Assembly fails to pass a new budget.

"We have notified all the campers presently here if the budget is not passed by midnight, all state facilities in Jackson County will be closed," said Brad Schneck, who is property manager of Jackson-Washington State Forest as well as Starve Hollow State Recreation Area.

That means campers at both locations will have until 8 a.m. Wednesday morning to leave the sites.

Schneck said if the budget is not in place by midnight, staff at both locations will not report to work Wednesday.

"Indiana conservation officers are prepared to work overtime to patrol the properties," Schneck said.

Marvin Jenkins, public information officer with the Indiana Department of Transportation's Seymour District, said if the budget does not pass, all road projects would be stopped, rest areas would be closed and no INDOT employees, except for those needed to maintain public safety, would report to work Wednesday.

Without a budget or a backup spending plan, most of state government would stop running. The state Board of Finance was prepared to meet Wednesday to keep prisons and state police running.

Bureau of Motor Vehicles license branches would shut down, but the BMV's database would stay active so police officers could verify driver information.

Lawmakers were expected to vote on a budget today, but it was unclear at 4:30 p.m. whether it would pass.