ALBANY — The State Legislature's two top Democrats believe the state government will

not face a shutdown next week, but agency commissioners were told Wednesday to prepare to turn

off the lights and send workers home if the fiscal impasse at the Capitol is not resolved by

Monday.

"We were told to all be prepared for a shutdown as of midnight Monday," said a state

official speaking on condition of anonymity following a conference call with Gov. David A.

Paterson's top advisers. All but essential personnel — health and public safety workers

— will be affected if the shutdown occurs.

The closure option has spread as a possibility this week after two Democratic senators said

they will not join their 30 Democratic colleagues Monday in passing the 11th emergency bill to

keep government running since the fiscal year began April 1 without an approved state budget.

Republicans have been voting against the measures, and have not said if they would provide

any voting help if the two Democrats make good on their threat.

But top lawmakers downplayed the threat.

"We're going to continue to make sure that government operates," Senate Democratic

Conference Leader John Sampson said, adding he is not thinking about a shutdown. "We're all

responsible leaders and we understand the importance of keeping government operating during

these tough fiscal times."

Asked if Sampson privately gave him assurances the Senate would have enough votes Monday to

pass the emergency bill, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "I believe he's committed to

keeping government running."

It takes 32 votes in the Senate to pass legislation. The emergency bills are assured

passage in the Assembly.

One of the two Senate Democrats who began the shutdown talk said he is all but certain to

back the bill Monday.

In an interview following a meeting with Sampson, Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, a

Bronx Democrat, said he left the session "surer than yesterday" that Paterson will not be

proposing deep enough cuts to make him vote no.

He said the budget should not be done in piecemeal in the emergency bills, which began in

earnest this week with $775 million in various health care savings.

Paterson has said he will include cuts to mental health and human services programs in the

bill lawmakers will take up Monday.

Sources said Paterson will propose at least $350 million in cuts when he unveils his next

emergency bill later today.

But Sen. Ruben Diaz, a Bronx Democrat, maintained his threat to vote no. If he holds to

that, it would require one Republican to cross over to keep the government running.

Silver said he is optimistic a 2010 budget can be voted on within the next 10 days.