Local agencies bracing for cuts

The article posted below is from the Northwest Herald Website that was posted today.

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2009/06/15/r_fw2yfmayskwa40bqizbxa/index.xml

Local agencies bracing for cutsBy CRYSTAL LINDELL - clindell@nwherald.com

On July 1, the Illinois Federation of Families might have to close its doors. And the Pioneer Center for Human Services might have to stop serving about 300 clients.

They are among the social service agencies facing severe cuts next year, which were detailed in letters that they received during the weekend from state department heads. The state Department of Human Services, one agency that funds the agencies, faces $2.24 billion in cuts.

Letters to local human services agencies broke down, by grant program, proposed cuts to the agencies and reiterated Gov. Pat Quinn’s message that lawmakers need to approve a state income tax increase to avoid the shortfall.

Locally, some agency heads speculated that the move is a political stunt but are preparing for the worst nonetheless. They also are planning a news conference on the issue today.
The cuts are slated to go into effect at the start of the fiscal year, July 1.

Lorraine Kopczynski, president and CEO of the Pioneer Center for Human Services, said for her agency, it would mean a loss of about $4 million from its $13 million budget.
She said if this was a scare tactic from the governor’s office, it was a horrible one.
“What an awful thing to do to people,” she said. “In two weeks it will be July 1. I have to give notice to these clients.”

Cynthia Sheppard, Illinois Federation of Families’ executive director, said the agency was preparing to close its doors because it relied so heavily on state funding.
“It’s going to be devastating,” she said.

Bob Martens, CEO of Family Services and Community Mental Health Center, said he hadn’t determined how the cuts would specifically affect his agency, but he knew they would have a drastic impact.

“The safety net that has been in place for so many years is being ripped apart piece by piece,” he said. “We’re deeply concerned.”

Martens added that if this was a political ploy, it didn’t solve the underlying problem.
“Regardless of if it’s a scare tactic or political theater, the issue is the cuts are not getting addressed,” he said. “I hope and pray that the legislators and the leadership in Springfield pull this together, sooner rather than later.”

Local lawmakers agreed that the move was irresponsible, and that cuts should be made across the board rather than just to human services.

State Rep. Mike Tryon, R-Crystal Lake, said he had heard that lawmakers might be called in for a session early next week to consider a new budget.

State Sen. Pam Althoff, R-McHenry, said she had heard the same rumors about a possible session next week in Springfield.

She added that she did believe the move was a political ploy from the governor’s office to force lawmakers to consider the income tax increase.

“I’m just surprised and I’m disappointed that this is the tactic that [the governor] would take,” Althoff said. “There were other alternatives that were proposed and given to him.”
State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said he would like to see other revenue sources explored. In particular, he’d like the state to try to sell off debt related to unpaid taxes.

He added that even without an income tax increase, human services agencies alone should not have to endure drastic cuts.

“I know the work that these agencies do,” he said. “And I just don’t want to see politics played with them.”