Gov. Jim Doyle said today that the state will "lose a significant amount" of federal funding, particularly in the Medicaid program, if the budget isn't done by July 1.

"We are getting down to the last couple of days realistically that we need to get this thing done," he said.

The budget is currently in the hands of Senate and Assembly Democratic leaders, who need to come up with an agreement to reconcile differences in the budgets passed by their respective houses.

The governor said he needs three or four days, plus time for administrative tasks like drafting and printing the bill.

Doyle said he and his staff have been "very involved" since the Senate passed their version last Wednesday to get an agreement worked out.

"They really have to do that before July 1," he said. "The time is here and they're going to have to figure out their differences and get a bill to my desk ... I'll do anything I can to help move this process along."

Doyle said negotiations are ongoing, and he is "very hopeful" that a resolution will be reached.

"If we don't it's not going to be a good thing, and I may have to do some -- we have to get the Medicaid bill passed by July 1 or we could lose a lot of money," he said.

-- By Greg Bump