SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod Blagojevich's top budget adviser has stepped down to take another state government job, the governor announced Wednesday.

John Filan, 62, will become director of the Illinois Finance Authority after helping draft Blagojevich's budget proposals since 2003.

Filan's exit comes as the state faces a possible $800 million budget deficit for the year. And state employee layoffs - including the closure of some state parks and historic sites - loom at the end of the month.

Filan now holds the official title of the state's chief operating officer, but will lead the state agency that helps Illinois businesses with financing and investments.

"I look forward to continuing my partnership with John as he works to create better jobs for more people throughout Illinois," Blagojevich said in a statement.

Over the past several years, Filan has helped draft budget plans for the governor, even though many of them have failed to become a reality. For example, Filan would typically be a point person for Blagojevich's plans to sell the state lottery or increase taxes on businesses to pay for health care.

Filan makes $150,276 now and will start his new job Monday. Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said Filan's new salary hasn't been decided, but that the former agency director made $160,000.

Despite the state's looming budget problems, lawmakers are not expected to offer many solutions in the coming days.

State Sen. Donne Trotter, the Senate's lead budget negotiator, said he believes the doomsday predictions for the state budget are overstated. He also said the governor's decision to shut down parks and historic sites on Nov. 30 is "arbitrary."

"They said they had enough money to keep them going at least until January or February," Trotter said Wednesday.