(Indianapolis, Ind.) - State lawmakers are looking toward next year and what's predicted to be the toughest budget session "since the Great Depression." 

Indiana House Speaker Rep. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend) used that comparison speaking to The Indianapolis Star. 

It's projected the state will have a $1.5 billion hole in the budget for fiscal year 2011. 

Budget officials are planning to try to close that gap by keeping spending cuts of $564 million in place and using more than $600 million from the state reserves.