As the threat of billions of dollars in cuts to vital human services in the state budget grows, the call for a tax increase to address the lack of revenue and $12.4 billion budget hole is growing stronger.
From The Southern’s Codell Rodriguez:
Nonprofit human services organizations have not had it easy recently with funding being taken away, then reinstated - and now possibly taken away again.
In Gov. Pat Quinn’s and House Speaker Mike Madigan’s doomsday budget scenarios, substance abuse programs would get wiped out. To help keep their services afloat, organizations are favoring Quinn’s proposed income tax increase.
According to Quinn’s doomsday budget, $769 million would be cut from human services. It would eliminate home services for 5,000 people with disabilities, addiction treatment for 45,000 people, child care for 1,000 children and close one of five Illinois Department of Human Services offices.
“It will be a very devastating blow to all human service groups that are non-for-profit,” said Colleen Flanagan, area administrator for Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC) in Murphysboro.
Another concern the groups have is what kind of impact losing services such as substance abuse rehabilitation would have on communities. Flanagan said without rehabilitation, there will be an increase in repeat offenders, and that will put further strain on the Illinois Department of Corrections.
John Markley, administrator and CEO of the H Group, said he is also aware of the negative impact from the proposed doomsday budgets and is supportive of Quinn’s requested tax increase.
“We believe there needs to be support for services, and it needs to be through some tax increase and we would support it,” Markley said.
While Markley recognizes that an income tax increase wouldn’t be a magical cure-all, it beats having programs cut all together.
“We’re not cutting to the bone, we’re cutting off the limb,” Marklay said.
© 2012 Campaign For Illinois' Future |
Cynthia cornelius says:
I am the Executive Director of Community Service Agency. I was in Springfield today to meet with legislators and to participate in a rally to encourage legislators to put aside their political agendas and balance the Illinois State Budget. Most legislators did not even show up prior to their 2:00 p.m. session, which was amazing and embaressing, since they work for the people of Illinois.
On the news I heard after spending my entire day in Springfield, leaving Chicago at 4:00 a.m. this morning, Republican legislators proudly proclaim the rally did not matter, it did not make a difference How did we manage to put people without compassion in office, to represent us?
And finallym what do we do with the clients, I am in tears as I write this, I am writing because I just can’t sit still after what I saw today, and I do not know what else to do.