HARRISBURG — House Speaker Keith McCall says he doubts Pennsylvania will have a state budget in place when the current fiscal year ends next week.

McCall told a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon in Harrisburg on Monday that this is the toughest budget year since he was elected in 1982.

The Carbon County Democrat says passage of a bill to allow table games in casinos is more likely than the legalization of video poker machines in bars.

He says he's worried state budget cuts might lead to property tax increases to make up the difference for local and county governments and school boards.

Gov. Ed Rendell is meeting on the budget behind closed doors with House and Senate Democrats. He's expected to talk about the negotiations later Monday.