SPRINGFIELD - Dozens of seasonal employees at the state's historic sites have been told they'll be out of work on July 31, victims of the state budget stalemate.

Summer workers at state-run facilities like the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington and the U.S. Grant Home in Galena were notified of their early termination beginning Friday.

The layoffs are the latest indication of what the historic sites face in the coming weeks after Gov. Rod Blagojevich cut a total of $1.4 billion out of the state budget earlier this month.

Along with millions of dollars in spending for a variety of social service programs, the governor's cuts could mean the reduction in hours or closure of many of the state's historic sites, as well as driver's license facilities and state parks.

Few details of those reductions have emerged.

"At this point, agencies are still finalizing those plans," Blagojevich spokesman Brian Williamsen said in a statement Monday.

The historic sites range from the well-known Lincoln stops in Springfield to, for example, the Lincoln Log Cabin near Charleston, Black Hawk Historic Site in Rock Island, Bryant Cottage in Bement, and the Shawneetown Bank in Old Shawneetown.

At the historic sites, a lack of information about what top officials are planning has led to widespread speculation that many of the sites will close in late August or September.

Thus far, however, no one is publicly confirming any dates. On Monday, agency spokesman David Blanchette would not confirm the layoffs of seasonal workers.

"We don't feel comfortable discussing things that are not finalized," Blanchette said.

At the David Davis Mansion, where three temporary workers were laid off Friday, site manager Marcia Young said the situation has been "surreal."

"This is a totally irrational and chaotic scenario," Young said Monday. "It's very fluid and unpredictable."

The possible shutdown has led to some grassroots efforts to keep the sites operating.

Supporters of the Black Hawk State Historic Site, for example, earlier launched a public information campaign in hopes of staving off cuts.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle aren't expressing much hope for a break in the gridlock. The reductions to the historic sites could be reversed by the General Assembly. However, there has been no indication that the House or Senate will return to action before November.

"I don't know that anything is going to change," said state Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet.

Added state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, "We may have to live within our means for a little while."

Historic sites

Chart shows top 10 Illinois historic sites by attendance in 2007:

Lincoln's New Salem, Petersburg 432,176

Lincoln's Tomb, Springfield 339,073

Cahokia Mounds, Collinsville 329,428

Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Spfld 238,493

Black Hawk, Rock Island 138,668

Old State Capitol, Springfield 109,254

Lewis and Clark, Hartford 96,188

Grant's Home, Galena 88,851

Lincoln Log Cabin, Lerna 82,735

Jubilee College, Brimfield 72,780

SOURCE: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency