A new wrinkle in Illinois' budget crisis unfolded Wednesday when Gov. Pat Quinn's administration said it has begun to delay payments to more than 40,000 child-care providers.

The move could threaten the fragile budgets of many providers and the family finances of more than 85,000 low-income parents who receive state-subsidized child-care services.

The delays could mean no more subsidy payments to many child-care providers until July 1, said Januari Smith, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Human Services.

"We don't have the money," she said. "We're very well aware of the burden this will put on working families."