Illinois state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth gathered local human service providers and state contractors together Wed. in a plea to the governor and lawmakers to pass a sustainable budget.
The Peoria Democrat says it should be the focus of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s upcoming State of the State address.
“The state of the state is we need a budget, and we need a budget now,” Gordon-Booth said.
The rally cry comes exactly a week ahead of the governor's annual speech.
With that theme in mind, local human service providers and state contractors hurting from the budget impasse gave their own status updates.
Tazewell County’s Health Department has seen layoffs, and a local adult day care facility had to close down four locations in the past few months.
Polly Poskin is the executive director of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Poskin says without a budget come spring, her organization’s future looks bleak:
“If not for the federal government, the money dedicated to sexual assault services, the 24 hour hotline would be shut down," Poskin said. "The hotline that has been there for thousands of women over the years in the middle of the night who wake up retraumatized by the rapist.”
She says by March 31st, all their federal funds will be used up.
The state is in its seventh month without a budget.
The nonprofits and agencies present at the press conference say they haven't received a dime from the state since July 1.
Tazewell County Health Department's assistant administrator Karla Burress says the state owes the agency about $450,000. The South Side Office of Concern's president Christine Kahl says the home has provided 30,000 nights of housing to the homeless, where it typically relies on state support.
Gov. Rauner is scheduled to give his State of the State remarks on Wed., Jan. 27 at noon.