AUSTIN—Hundreds of businesses that provided transportation, portable toilets and other assistance after Hurricane Ike are still waiting to be paid six months after the storm, the result of a $134 million dispute between Texas and the federal government.

Small businesses around the country are struggling because of the delay, and many of them say next time a hurricane threatens the Texas Gulf Coast, they might be reluctant to help.

Gov. Rick Perry blames the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the delay in payments. FEMA has said that Texas should pay the businesses, then seek reimbursement from the federal government.

The state owes money to 350 companies who accepted contracts to provide help after the hurricanes, according to a list of vendors obtained by The Associated Press through a Texas Public Information Act request.