SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod Blagojevich signaled Thursday that he may not close a dozen state parks later this month, but a similar number of historic sites remain on track to shut their doors Nov. 30.

On a day that saw Blagojevich retreat from his push to acquire more power to slash the ailing state budget, the governor signed legislation that will make about $176 million available for state parks, substance abuse treatment centers and the Department of Children and Family Services.

Spokeswoman Katherine Ridgway warned that it's still not a sure bet parks won't close.

"We're exploring all options," Ridgway said. "These are all difficult decisions we have to make."

The governor did make it clear that the targeted historic sites are not in the mix by overriding the wishes of lawmakers and vetoing $2.4 million that would have kept places such as Lincoln Log Cabin, Vandalia Statehouse and Blackhawk State Historic Site from closing at month's end.

In a statement, Blagojevich said the money he is restoring via Senate Bill 1103 is for "core services."

"(We) need to ensure that we continue to provide core services to Illinoisans that includes funding for substance abuse addiction treatment, care for persons with developmental disabilities and funding for public transportation," the governor said.

The governor's move came after lawmakers left the Capitol on Thursday evening for the remainder of the year. The legislature is not scheduled to return to action until mid-January.

Blagojevich had cut money from the budget last summer after lawmakers sent him a spending plan he said is $2 billion out of balance.

Lawmakers moved to restore some of the funds he originally cut by tapping into a series of special state funds, but Blagojevich said Thursday that federal rules bar the use of about $55 million of that money.

Tom Pliura of LeRoy, who operates a horse riding concession at Moraine View State Park, was surprised to hear of the governor's decision to keep funding available for the parks.

"This is news to me," Pliura said.

Pliura said no one at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources had contacted him about the possible change in plans. Pliura has a court date set for Dec. 1 asking that the closures be stopped. He called the situation "fluid."

Ridgway agreed with that characterization.

"We're going to continue to look for places that we can find efficiencies," Ridgway said.

Along with Moraine View, other parks eyed for closure included Weldon Springs near Clinton, Wolf Creek near Shelbyville and Hidden Springs near Strasburg.

The governor's moves on the state parks came on a day that saw him back off efforts to gain extra powers to cut funding for public schools, university, employee pensions and local governments by up to 8 percent.

While the governor already has the ability to trim costs in agencies that he controls, he wants approval to cut up to $2.2 billion out of other parts of the state budget as a way to deal with slumping state revenues.

It was clear lawmakers aren't ready to go along with his plan.

"We can't give him that kind of broad authority," said Republican state Rep. Roger Eddy, a school superintendent from Hutsonville.

University officials told a House panel Thursday that cutting their budgets by up to 8 percent would result in layoffs, higher tuition and fewer programs.

Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard said the governor's plan could result in a tuition hike, making college unaffordable for many students.

"We can't afford the kind of cuts that are being anticipated here," Poshard told lawmakers.

At Illinois State University, next year's incoming freshmen could see a 16 percent bump in tuition if the governor's plan went into effect, said Phil Adams, a top aide to college President Al Bowman.

kurt.erickson@lee.net|789-0865