Gov Bev Perdue's veto Friday of the proposed $20.2 billion state budget leaves schools, courts and college students on scholarships facing an uncertainty they haven't experienced in years.

The impasse between the Democratic governor and the Republican-led legislature may mean lawmakers will finish work in a few days without putting a revised budget in place.

Perdue said she wants to draw legislative leaders into negotiations.

She has made at least two suggestions in the last week for spending about $100 million more on K-12 schools, probation officers and other items by using money from reserve accounts or an unexpected bump in revenue. Legislative leaders have rebuffed her suggestions, and said they don't intend to rework the budget.