Even after Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the Illinois legislature agreed on a six month stop-gap budget in late June, social service agencies are unsure about funding for this year and the future.
Executive Director of the Knox County Child Advocacy Center, Judy Guenseth says about 50 percent of her organization’s funds come from the state.
She tells WGIL in her mind, the stop-gap budget doesn’t really solve anything for social service agencies.
“I know that some have disappeared because they didn’t get any funding at all,” Guenseth says. “We were fortunate enough to get some last year, however, the problem is going to be when they actually do nail down a (full) budget because at that point in time they probably will start slicing.”
Sara Robison, head of CASA of Knox County, says that they receive federal dollars that have been held up.
She says that directly affects employees who serve children.
Guenseth adds however you look at it, social service agencies are in a tough corner.
“No one wants to get a salary cut,” Guenseth says. “But, what are we going to do? Tell our landlord we can’t pay our rent or we can’t pay our phone bill?
CEO at Bridgeway, Bill Nelson says they’ll likely be short on funding for FY16 and he anticipates problems rearing their head again in December when the budget expires.
