INDIANAPOLIS — Time's almost up. State lawmakers have until late Tuesday night to pass a new budget or face a government shutdown.

Included in that shutdown would be license branches, state-regulated casinos and state parks. That means thousands of state employees would be furloughed, and thousands of campers who've packed into state parks for the busy holiday weekend would have to go home.

It was disappointing news to Rick Sparks of Bremen. He arrived at Potato Creek State Park Monday hoping to stay until Thursday.

“And she (a park official) she said they're (state lawmakers) doing the budget and it would be a day to day thing and to keep coming up to the front and paying for a day because you can only pay for one day at a time."

Phil Bloom, spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources, said he remains hopeful a budget will be passed by the deadline to keep the parks open.

Campers said this week is among the most popular of the whole year.

“It stinks if the parks would have to close,” said Chad Bennitt, who was camping at Potato Creek with his wife, three children, and dozens of other family members.

A spokesperson for Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development said unemployment benefits would not stop for those already enrolled, but the state would stop processing new applications under the government shutdown. And a spokesperson for Gov. Daniels’ office said the state’s WorkOne offices would likely close.

State police, prison workers, state hospital workers, and conservation officers would remain on the job.