Elusive deal could push work on Pennsylvania budget past deadline

The start of Pennsylvania state government's 2016-17 fiscal year is four days away and budget legislation remains under negotiation behind closed doors.

Talks continued through Sunday, while lawmakers plan to return to the Capitol on Monday.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature have reported no agreements on spending or how to pay for it, and haven't unveiled a bipartisan budget package. It appears unlikely that a budget package will pass before the fiscal-year deadline.

Negotiators are tight-lipped, and rank-and-file lawmakers who must vote on it have said they're being told little by caucus leaders.

Wolf is seeking enough money to balance a deficit projected at $1.8 billion next year and to increase aid to public schools for instruction and operations by $250 million, or 4 percent.