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TRENTON, N.J. (CBS/AP) ― Gov. Jon S. Corzine returned to the Statehouse on Wednesday for the first time since an April car crash nearly killed him.

Corzine broke his leg, 11 ribs, collarbone and sternum when his speeding sport utility vehicle, driven by a state trooper, slammed into a guard rail. The governor was hospitalized for 18 days, much of it in intensive care.

"It's great to be back," Corzine said after pulling up in front of the Capitol in a special van he purchased to help him travel while he recovers.

Corzine walked up the Statehouse steps with help from crutches, but without much trouble. He continued through the building's rotunda and into his office, where he greeted staffers lined up to meet him.

"How are we doing?" he asked. "Good to see you all."

The governor, who resumed his duties May 7, has been working and rehabilitating from the governor's mansion in Princeton.

Corzine wasn't wearing his seat belt in the crash. He voluntarily paid a $46 fine and apologized to the state. Last week, he released a public service announcement urging people to wear seat belts.

On his first day back at the Statehouse, Corzine met with legislative leaders to discuss his proposed $33 billion budget, which calls for no tax increases.

The day appeared to be productive, with Corzine declaring he was close to reaching an agreement with legislative leaders on his budget proposal -- a far cry from last year when a budget clash closed state government for a week.

The state constitution calls for an adopted budget by June 30 each year. Corzine and legislative leaders said that won't be repeated this year.

"We're close, but as in any kind of expenditure of $33 billion, you end up having some disagreements and challenges," Corzine said.

Legislators have been concerned about Corzine's proposal to redo a funding formula used to help hospitals pay for treating uninsured residents. But otherwise, they widely support his spending plan.

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. and Senate President Richard J. Codey said they expect legislators to reach an agreement on major details by next week and hopefully complete a budget by mid-June. Legislators must also decide whether to add special grants to the budget, a process that has attracted scrutiny from federal investigators.

"We're reasonably close and we're going to continue to work over the next week or so and hopefully wrap it up," said Codey, D-Essex.

Roberts said he expected to add about $100 million to the $583 million Corzine has proposed spending. Roberts wants to the money used to help hospitals treat uninsured residents, but he declined to detail where that money would be found.

Hospitals contend the lack of adequate state funding puts many hospitals at risk of closing.

Corzine also said he was weighing nominations for two new state Supreme Court justices, including the chief.

The governor must nominate a new state Supreme Court justice and chief justice in the coming weeks to replace Chief Justice James R. Zazzali, who must retire June 17 when he turns 70. He has said he wants to make those decisions by June 4 to allow lawmakers to act quickly on them.

Corzine left the Capitol around 12:25 p.m. to head back to the governor's mansion in Princeton for physical therapy. On his way out, he paused to take photographs and chat with excited fourth-graders touring the Statehouse from the Ironia School in Randolph.

"It was a nice surprise," said teacher Linda Andrews.

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)