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| Illinois' Human Services Network Anticipating Layoffs |
More layoffs are on the way within Illinois' human services network.
The Human Service Center of Red Bud plans to start laying off 27 people starting Monday, which will cut services to about 300 people with developmental disabilities or mental illness. Gary Buatt, executive director of the agency, says the problem is not the budget cuts due an out-of-balanced budget, but late government payments.
He says he requested an expedited payment, and did receive money this month, but laments that the money won't cover payroll.
Reflecting another budget problem, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois is waiting to hear whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich will sign a fund sweep plan that would reverse some of his budget cuts. Lawmakers early this week gave final approval to a nearly $220 million fund sweep to stop state government layoffs, halt state park and historic site closures, and restore cut funding to human services agencies.
LSSI's Behavioral Health has already laid off 27 workers because of the governor's budget cuts. Associate executive director Kathleen Dwyer says that has hurt more than 1,000 needy people, most of whom were receiving help in detox programs. She wants the governor to sign the measure, and hurry. She says every day with less funding means fewer of her former workers may be available to come back to work, should the governor sign the bill at all.
She said: "Governor Blagojevich, it's in the best interest of every citizen of your state that you sign this right now."
The governor's office says it's being careful with the decision, because staff suspect some of those special funds can't be swept.
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| 09 26 08 by Newsroom |
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