Still, the offers and counteroffers were a stark departure from the long-standing pattern of brief and unproductive meetings between leaders of the two political parties, and a sign that neither wants to risk taking the blame for schools failing to open or government services shutting down as the Nov. 8 election nears. If no deal is reached before Friday, state spending authority for schools and a number of government operations will run out, and Illinois will earn the dubious distinction of entering a second financial year in a row without a budget.