Topeka ? The House and Senate agree the state shouldn’t cut aid to public schools, and both want to protect selected social services. And both have approved budgets that use more than $100 million from the state’s rainy-day funds to finance government programs.

But the negotiators who have been assigned to draft the final version of a $4 billion-plus budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 said Friday that they faced difficult talks.

Each chamber’s plan attempts to eliminate projected $700 million budget shortfall but would fall short.

Legislators prepared to take their annual spring break without any strong guidance about how to raise more revenue, meaning budget issues still will be contentious when lawmakers reconvene May 1 for a wrap-up session.

“Clearly, we’re on track for another week of session,” said Rep. Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, one of the negotiators.

The House approved a budget that would increase aid to public schools by $10 per pupil, to $3,880, but cut other programs and close five minimum-security prisons. It also would capture some agencies’ unspent fees.

But, if the House stuck to its plan to dip into rainy-day funds, it would leave a $106 million shortfall. Without tapping reserves, the plan would fall $214 million short.

The Senate’s budget plan maintains school aid at $3,870 per pupil and keeps the five minimum-security prisons open. It does not cut programs as deeply as the House plan.

Tapping rainy-day funds, the Senate plan would leave a shortfall of $306 million. Without those funds, the gap would be $416 million.

A joint conference committee is scheduled to meet April 23 to begin drafting the final version of the fiscal 2003 budget.

Budget bills are SB 640 and HB 3008.