ST. PAUL — Urgency is sinking in as top Minnesota leaders resume private budget talks away from the Capitol.

For a fourth day, majority House Republican leaders were meeting Friday with Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton about how to structure an education budget and a few other pieces of a spending plan for the next two years.

The goal is to get the template of a deal soon to allow for a special session to ratify it. On Monday, state officials will send out layoff notices to nearly 9,500 workers who would be idled if a budget is not set by July 1.

While the meetings are two way for now, Dayton met Thursday night with Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk and House Minority Leader Paul Thissen.