Budget keeps LDC open
[JUNE
3, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — After much discussion and controversy,
Illinois lawmakers sent a budget to the governor Sunday, according
to Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield. Among the changes from proposals
earlier in the week, this plan includes funding to keep Lincoln
Developmental Center open.
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"I’m thrilled that
Lincoln Developmental Center will remain open under this budget
plan, but I’m sure the parents of LDC residents are even more happy
to hear this news," said Bomke. "They have fought with me to keep
this facility operational because they believe it is best for their
children’s well-being. This is a great victory for them, and I would
hope the governor agrees and signs off on this funding."
This budget, like the
one approved by the Senate earlier in the week, includes $25 million
Bomke hopes the Illinois Department of Corrections will use to avoid
privatization of food services at state correctional facilities.
Layoffs were again
included in the plan, much to Bomke’s dismay, but with the
early retirement
proposal he sponsored, many of those layoffs may be unnecessary.
More than 7,000 employees are expected to take advantage of the
plan, and only 6,500 were targeted for layoffs.
Overall, the budget
totals nearly $23 billion in general revenue funds, which may force
the governor to use his veto powers.
Details of the plan
include:
• $1.5 million from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum Fund to the University of Illinois Springfield
for governmental studies.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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• No general tax increase and no pension bonding.
• Increased taxes on cigarettes and wealthy riverboats
and "limited securitization" of tobacco settlement funds with state
backing.
• Restoration of a portion of the Medicaid reductions,
to ensure access to health care and that the state pays its bills to
hospitals and health-care providers on time.
• Expanded funding for the school construction program.
• Full restoration of payments to service providers who
work with developmentally disabled and mentally ill patients.
• Nearly full funding for categorical grants to
schools.
• Short-term borrowing to allow the state to pay its
backlog of bills. Without this, vendors may be forced to borrow at
higher rates.
• Decoupling from a federal corporate tax break on
capital investments to save the state and local government money.
•
Paying back the Rainy Day Fund to ensure future budget stability.
[News
release]
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General Assembly passes
FY2003
budget
Keeps Lincoln Developmental Center
open
[JUNE
3, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate gave final legislative
approval Sunday night to a new state budget. Sen. Claude "Bud" Stone
said it’s a realistic plan, given the current economic climate in
Illinois.
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"For the first time
in nearly a half-century, Illinois is faced with a budget year
showing a decrease in revenue over year-ago income," said Stone.
"That has led to several difficult decisions this year, including
cutting spending and raising revenues in order to erase financial
red ink of nearly two billion dollars."
Stone said the plan
approved on the last day of session reflects the provisions unveiled
in a proposal made by Senate Republicans in late April. Those Senate
Republican provisions include a $500 million reduction in the state
bureaucracy, the defeat of an income tax hike as was proposed,
maintaining the viability and stability of state future pension
obligations, and a 50 percent restoration of Medicaid funding cuts
proposed by the governor back in February.
"The Medicaid program
is a vital program to ensure access to health care for all," said
Stone. This plan includes $330 million for hospitals, nursing homes,
pharmacies, practitioners and managed-care providers."
The plan also keeps
education a top priority. "The plan protects education from the
budget cuts, with $6.2 billion for elementary and secondary
education, a minimum level of $4,560 per student in state aid, and
$1 billion for the successful school construction grant program,"
said Stone.
"I’m also very
pleased this plan adds back funding to keep the Lincoln
Developmental Center and the Zeller Mental Health Center open," he
said.
In separate
legislation, the Senate approved funding measures to fill a revenue
hole in the budget plan. Those measures authorize a 40-cent-per-pack
cigarette tax increase ($240 million), which will also be used to
partially fund an expansion of the school construction program; a
hike in the riverboat gaming tax ($130 million); and a decoupling
from the federal stimulus package ($240 million), which will keep
equipment depreciation at its current level.
The legislature also
authorized the state to borrow up to $1 billion to end the backlog
of overdue bills. The state can borrow the funds for about 2 percent
annual interest, as opposed to forcing vendors and service providers
to borrow at rates four times as high in order to meet an income
shortfall due to overdue payments from the state.
The following is a
list of state government improvements to public infrastructure
within the 45th Senate District:
• Lincoln College, $2 million
• Springlake Conservation Area, $500,000
• Weldon Springs State Park, $40,000
Budget plan
highlights
Agriculture
• $1,500,000 for AgriFirst.
Corrections
• Restores funding for the Hanna City Work Camp
Economic development
• $2.5 million for coal research and development
projects.
• $1 million for continued ethanol research.
Elementary and secondary education
• $33 million for mandated programs (94 percent
funding)
• $184 million for the Early Childhood Development
Block Grant.
• $1.8 million for agricultural education programs.
Higher education
• Public universities would be funded at governor’s GRF
proposed level.
• $35 million for the grants under the Monetary Award
Program.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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Human services
• $5.0 million for full-year funding of 110 new
emergency CILAs for developmentally disabled people.
• $2.45 million in transitional funding for 100 CILA
placements for the developmentally disabled.
• $40.9 million, or 18.3 percent increase for the Home
Services program.
• Includes full restoration of funding to human
services providers, which was not included in the governor’s
original FY03 budget recommendation. This amount includes an
additional $16.5 million for MI Community Service grants, an
additional $32.8 million for community-based services for the
developmentally disabled and an additional $20.1 million for
long-term care for the developmentally disabled.
• $616.2 million for the department’s child-care
program, with no increase in child-care co-pay.
Natural resources
• $36.0 million for the Illinois Open Land Trust
Program.
• $5.2 million for Conservation 2000 projects and the
Illinois Rivers Initiative.
Public aid
• Implement SeniorCare program, offering expanded
pharmaceutical drug assistance to all senior at or below 250 percent
of the federal poverty level.
• $24 million for KidCare, to cover an additional
17,500 children.
Public safety
• $1 million to fund Public Water Supply Vulnerability
Assessments.
• $14 million to fund the Brownfields Redevelopment
program.
• $252 million for financial assistance to local
governments for sewer systems and wastewater treatment facilities.
• $98 million for financial assistance to local
governments and privately owned community water suppliers, for
drinking water infrastructure projects.
Seniors
• Fully funds the Circuit Breaker/Pharmaceutical
Assistance program. The FY03 appropriation of $138,500,000 will
cover 256,000 property tax grants and 62,000 pharmaceutical
participants.
• $7,375,800 for the Elder Abuse and Neglect program.
• $6,618,500 for home-delivered meals.
State police
• Funding for 50 new cadets in FY03.
Transportation
• $2.3 billion for the FY03 road program.
• Increase of $4.1 million to downstate public
transportation systems.
• FY03 budget includes $45.6 million for rail
transportation, including $27.0 million to continue work toward
development of high-speed rail passenger service between Chicago and
St. Louis.
• Includes $10.6 million for Amtrak.
The Fiscal Year 2003 budget, approved by
the Senate and House now heads to the governor for consideration.
Fiscal Year 2003 runs from July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003.
[News
release]
|
|
Early retirement
bill heads to governor
[JUNE
3, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — The long-awaited early retirement package
for state employees is on its way to the Governor, according to Sen.
Larry Bomke, chief sponsor of the proposal. Nearly 7,365 state
employees are expected to take advantage of the plan, which would
allow them to purchase up to five years of age and five years of
service credit.
|
"I expect the
governor to sign this legislation into law swiftly," said Bomke,
R-Springfield. "This is certainly good news for state employees —
both those who want to retire and those in danger of layoffs during
the budget crunch — but the bottom line is early retirement is good
for the entire state of Illinois for the cost savings."
Once signed into law,
state employees may begin to elect early retirement beginning Aug.
1. To qualify for the plan, employees must be off state payroll by
Dec. 31 and cannot be hired back or return to state service on
contract.
Employees must meet
existing eligibility requirements for retirement, either under the
"Rule of 85" (age and years of creditable service equal at least
85), at age 55 with 25 years of service, or at age 60 with eight
years of service.
Additionally, House Bill 2671 allows
employees to claim pension credit for voluntary or involuntary
furlough days. SERS members may apply for up to five days of service
credit for voluntary or involuntary furlough between Dec. 1, 2002,
and Jan. 1, 2003.
[News
release]
|
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Governor commends General Assembly for working together in a
bipartisan effort to pass state budget
$54 billion spending bill will allow
state government to continue providing essential services
[JUNE
3, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George
Ryan today congratulated the Illinois General Assembly for passing a
Fiscal Year 2003 budget that reduces appropriations by $600 million
from Fiscal Year 2002. The $54 billion FY03 budget is a compromise
agreement that includes a mixture of spending cuts and new revenues.
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"I want to thank all of the members of
both houses on both sides of the aisle for taking up the challenge I
laid out for them a week ago," Gov. Ryan said. "For the first time
in almost a half-century our revenues are less than the year before.
Tough choices had to be made, and the members of the General
Assembly made a good-faith effort to work in a bipartisan manner and
put a budget on my desk."
This budget includes General Revenue
Fund spending of about $22.8 billion. It includes restored funding
for health care and social service programs as well as an investment
in children, which includes a $1 billion school construction
program.
The legislature also passed additional
revenues totaling $810 million.
• $365 million will be
raised through new taxes on tobacco and gaming. A 40-cent increase
on cigarettes will generate 235 million in new dollars. Increasing
taxes at riverboat casinos and boosting the admission fee for
riverboat casinos from its current level of $2 to $3 will generate
$130 million.
• The governor has been
granted the authority to raise up to $750 million by issuing general
obligation bonds repaid by future payments for the tobacco
settlement, building cash balances in the general funds and budget
stabilization fund.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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• Decoupling from the
federal depreciation provisions and maintaining the current
depreciation allowances for state taxes will save Illinois $240
million and local governments $150 million
• Reallocating $205
million of existing revenue will involve keeping the state sales tax
on photo processing in the state treasury (generating $25 million),
reallocating a portion of the real estate transfer tax (generating
$15 million), and transferring approximately $165 million of surplus
balances in other state funds to general funds.
Gov. Ryan will thoroughly review all of
the components of the compromise budget when it reaches his desk,
and he will use his executive powers to ensure it is balanced.
"After I
review the budget bill, we will be able to continue providing
important funding for educating our children, providing critical
health-care services to the poor and expanding pharmaceutical
assistance for senior citizens in the next fiscal year," Gov. Ryan
added.
[Illinois Government News Network
press release]
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Agency ready to
fill the gap for homeless
[JUNE
1, 2002] The
Salvation Army of Lincoln and Logan County
has just taken a giant step toward helping those who are most in
need in our community and surrounding area. Logan County is in need
of a transitional housing shelter. The agency is looking to fill
that large gap. On Friday, May 24, they kicked off a capital
building program at 307 N. Kickapoo St., the site where the new
facility will be built.
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There is no homeless
or emergency shelter anywhere in Logan County! The need
just keeps growing! While our streets are not lined with
vagrants at night, there are numerous homeless people in the county
trying to survive. They float from friend to friend, live out of
their cars or survive by any means available. "The Army fills a
niche that our churches cannot," explains Dr. Mark Searby, advisory
board member.
The work of the
Salvation Army is all about bettering the lives of the people
who live in the communities served, including Lincoln and throughout
Logan County. Its doctrine follows the mainstream of Christian
belief, and its articles of faith emphasize God’s saving purposes.
For virtually the entire 20th century, the Lincoln community has
been able to turn to the Salvation Army in times of need. The
new building will enable the organization to expand their community
outreach and involvement.
The Salvation Army
has worked well with other agencies in our community, integrating
services and often picking up loose ends.
"The Salvation Army
provides invaluable services to the city of Lincoln. We look forward
to working with the Salvation Army in providing assistance to the
needy members of the community and for the assistance they provide
to the police department and other emergency services," said former
Chief Rich Ludolph from the Lincoln Police Department.
As a whole, the
agency is respected for their works throughout the United States.
"The Salvation Army is by far the most effective organization in the
United States. No one has ever come close to it in respect to
clarity of mission, ability to innovate, measurable results and
putting money to maximum use." — Peter Drucker, Forbes Magazine.
Last year alone
nearly 600 people received Salvation Army assistance at home in
Logan County.
Meet Michael Lee
Michael is a veteran
who finds himself unemployed because of a medical condition that
makes it impossible to do even light lifting without surgery. He has
neither medical insurance nor public aid, though he has made
numerous Social Security appeals. He lives on $125 worth of food
stamps a month and adds to his income by selling items of junk he
has collected from the streets. Michael is essentially unemployable,
yet he qualifies for no assistance.
Michael cannot live
without colostomy bags which, for the past year, have been paid for
by the Salvation Army. He’s formed a special bond with the director,
Curtis Sutterfield.
"I’d be in bad shape
without the Salvation Army," Michael says, "For as long as I have
been in Lincoln, they have been the only ones helping me. They help
people where they need it."
Services the Salvation Army currently
offers are:
*Emergency shelter
*Ministry
*Clothing and food
*Essential supplies
*Financial assistance
*Counseling
*Thanksgiving food
baskets
Expanding for the future
The Salvation Army plans to:
*Expand services to
include programs that will offer hope for struggling parents and
needy children.
*Continue to grow in
offering help for the hungry and homeless.
*Offer family
development classes and training programs that promote healthy and
functional families.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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[First floor of Salvation Army house]
[Click on diagram to enlarge]
[Second floor of Salvation Army house]
[Click on diagram to enlarge]
"We are excited about strengthening the future of our community! We
want to raise $570,000 toward this new facility. This will enable us
to expand our work, meet the needs of our county and continue to
branch into new areas of service. We know we can count on your
support to get this project completed!" — The Salvation Army
of Lincoln and Logan County
The Salvation Army
motto: Meeting physical needs of people through a spiritual focus,
all around the world.
Budget breakdown for projected new
facility
The project is
expected to cost $700,000.
New
building construction and contingency: $390,000
Shelter setup: $85,000
Operations endowment: $200,000
Campaign and office expense: $25,000
Total: $700,000
The Salvation Army
has $130,000 from capital and insurance from the previous shelter
fire, leaving a balance of $570,000 needed.
Naming opportunities
Family Development
Center: $250,000
Community room:
$75,000
Dining room: $25,000
Individual shelter
rooms: $15,000 each
Living room: $10,000
Play area: $7,500
Logan County Salvation Army board
of directors
Sonnie Alexander
Tony Cameron
Dan Curry
Dean Langdon
Mike Miller
Gary Newman
Dr. Mark Searby
Shawn Sillings
Roger Webster
Jonathan Wright
State Rep. Jonathan Wright is chairman of
the campaign. Dean Langdon co-chairs.
[News
release
/ Jan
Youngquist]
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Logan County included in the additional 38 counties declared
disaster areas
[JUNE
1, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan announced Thursday that 38
additional counties have been added to the federal disaster
declaration President Bush issued earlier this month. These counties
sustained damage from the recent storms, tornadoes and flooding in
Illinois. Gov. Ryan requested that these 38 counties be added, based
on a review of damage assessments gathered by federal and state
disaster recovery officials.
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The newly declared
counties include Adams, Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign,
Christian, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas,
Edgar, Ford, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Iroquois, Jersey, Lawrence,
Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Mason, McDonough, Menard, Montgomery,
Morgan, Moultrie, Piatt, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby,
Vermilion and Wabash.
These counties were
added for individual assistance programs under the major disaster
declaration issued by President Bush on May 21. Assistance will be
made available to homeowners, renters and businesses to help them
recover from the severe weather system that began on April 21. This
new designation brings the total number of Illinois counties
eligible to apply for the individual assistance to 68.
"I appreciate the
federal government acting quickly to approve these counties for
federal assistance," Gov. Ryan said. "This assistance will allow
individuals and business owners an opportunity to begin rebuilding
and repairing their damaged property."
[to top of second column in this
article]
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Affected residents
and business owners may apply for assistance by calling the
toll-free registration number, 1 (800) 621-3362, between 8 a.m. and
6 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. A wide range of state
and federal disaster assistance programs that are available include
funding for temporary housing, Small Business Administration
low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or
replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance, and
grants for serious needs and necessary expenses not met by other
programs.
When calling to make application, it is
recommended that callers have their current phone number, address
where the damage occurred, Social Security number, a general list of
damages and losses suffered, directions to the property, insurance
policy number and insurance company or agent’s name.
[Illinois Government News Network
press release]
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Senate votes to
strengthen Gift Ban Act
[JUNE
1, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers once again have a
comprehensive ethics reform law and are looking to make it even
stronger, according to Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield. On Friday
the Illinois Senate approved two changes to the recently reinstated
law.
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The 1998 law (PA
90-737) was recently upheld by the Supreme Court, once again placing
lawmakers under restrictions banning personal use of campaign funds,
gifts and fund-raising during session. The law also tightened
disclosure requirements.
"Questions have come
up in recent years that need be addressed under the Gift Ban Act,"
said Bomke. "Now that we have an ethics law back on the books, it’s
time to make sure than no one else misunderstands the way things
work. Government employees should not collect campaign contributions
from the people they do government business with."
House Bill 4680
addresses recent controversy not covered by the current gift ban.
Under this legislation, state and local government employees could
not solicit or receive campaign contributions from anyone over which
they have regulated business authority. This would also apply to
salaried employees of state constitutional officers as well as
employees of county, township or municipality officers.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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In addition to losing
their jobs, employees found guilty of solicitation will face
criminal penalties. To protect whistle-blowers, House Bill 4680 also
prevents employees from being discharged, demoted, suspended,
threatened, harassed or discriminated because they choose to obey
the law and not solicit contributions.
In addition, the
measure further clarifies the Gift Ban Act’s prohibition on gifts,
banning those with a value of more than $100 per calendar year.
House Bill 4680 now returns to the House
of Representatives for further approval. If signed into law, it will
take effect immediately.
[News
release]
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Great Lakes July 4
festival canceled
Security requirements forced difficult
decision
[JUNE
1, 2002]
GREAT LAKES — Due to prohibitive costs and insurmountable
logistical challenges brought on by increased security requirements
at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, the installation’s traditional
July 4 festival will not be held this year.
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After careful
consideration of several options, officials at Great Lakes
determined that canceling the event was the most fair-minded and
most appropriate course of action.
Having the event on
base would have required all guests without valid Department of
Defense vehicle decals to park at an off-base location and be bused
onto the installation. Not only would this require a significant
outlay of funds, it would also lead to lengthy delays — as much as
four to five hours by some estimates — to get guests on and off the
base.
Another option
considered was to have the event on base as in past years, but admit
only authorized active-duty military personnel, military retirees
and civilian employees of Great Lakes.
"We did not like the
perception associated with this alternative," said Capt. Jerry Hart,
the commanding officer at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. "We
value our relationship with our neighbors outside the gates, and we
do not want to send the message that they are not welcome.
"For the past 17
years we have celebrated July 4th with members of our local
communities here at Great Lakes. We will join together in
celebration again this year, but it will be done at the many local
community festivals offered outside the gates. And to the greatest
extent possible, we will spread our military performing units around
this year to ensure that communities who wish to have a Navy
presence at their event can do so."
[to top of second column in this
article]
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A third option
considered was a possible partnership with a local community’s July
4 festival, but officials at Great Lakes found that unattractive for
two reasons. First, such a partnership could create the impression
of preferential treatment to one community. Second, Great Lakes
would like to once again host a July 4 event on base if and when
security requirements are relaxed enough to allow it. Establishing a
partnership this year could make it difficult to move the event back
to Great Lakes in the future.
"This decision was very difficult for us,
but we have made the right one," Hart explained. "Our going-in
position was that we would not sacrifice the wonderful relationship
we have with our neighbors in our surrounding communities, nor would
we elevate our bond with one community above that of another. We’ve
met those two criteria. Great Lakes will still share its patriotic
spirit with our community neighbors this year. Only the venue will
change."
[News
release]
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Part 1
Logan-Mason Rehabilitation Center helps the disabled meet their
goals
[MAY
31, 2002] They
live in our community and are often part of our work force, earning
salaries and shopping in our local stores. Although most of the time
we don’t notice them, the developmentally disabled live beside us
and, like the rest of us, strive to do meaningful work, make
friends, continue their education and live fulfilling lives.
|
An agency that helps
them meet these goals is the Logan-Mason Rehabilitation Center on
South Postville Drive. Its mission statement says: "It is our goal
to help people erase the limitations forced upon them by their
disabilities. It is our job to create an opportunity for each
individual who is ready to take a step toward independence."
As its name states,
the center serves clients in Logan and Mason counties — about 300
every weekday. They may live at the Lincoln Developmental Center, in
community homes in the two-county area, with their families or on
their own.
The outer office at
the Postville site doesn’t begin to suggest the hive of activity in
the workrooms and classrooms behind it. But about 30 of the most
independent of the center’s clients aren’t in these friendly, busy
rooms; they are out in the community going to work every day,
earning salaries and paying taxes like the rest of us.
"They are in jobs all
over town — at the Lincoln College cafeteria, at Lincoln Christian
College’s cafeteria, at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital’s kitchen,
at Burwell’s Travel Plaza, at Kroger’s, and in various restaurants
and nursing homes — wherever their help is needed," says Peggy Ross
Jones, who oversees the employment program.
"Our clients are
doing real work," she adds emphatically. "We are not making up jobs.
They keep their employers happy, and they are happy, too."
They get paid at
least minimum wage for their work, and the money they earn is theirs
to spend as they please.
[Photos by Joan Crabb]
[Brenda
works at the hole cover machine in the regular work program. She’s
putting together a part for Inland Tool of Mount Pulaski.]
Most of them need
some support in their working life, and the center provides this in
several ways. For the most independent, there is a monitoring
program to see that they continue to do well.
For others there are
job coaches who go to the workplace and help the employer train
them. These coaches can break down complex instructions into
separate steps, help workers keep up with the pace of the job, and
find innovative ways to help them follow instructions, such as
color-coding parts of tasks for nonreaders.
"Before we had job
coaches, we would send people out and hope they would do all right.
Sometimes they didn’t. Now we are able to keep people in the same
job for years," Peggy says.
For example, about 20
clients have been working with the Lincoln College food service for
the last 12 years. These workers always have one or two job coaches
on hand to help solve any problems that come up.
"A lot of our people
seem able to handle repetitive jobs with specific routines that you
or I would get tired of," Peggy says. "They are very valuable to
employers who need routine jobs done over and over. They are a real
service to the community."
Peggy not only
coordinates the employment program, she makes sure all 82 of the
center’s staff members stay up to date on their training. All get
regular CPR training, and all must meet a state mandate for direct
support training, including health, safety, human rights, and abuse
and neglect prevention. Staff members who work directly with clients
must have 40 hours of classroom training and 80 hours of on-the-job
training to meet Department of Human Services requirements.
Peggy calls herself a
"behind the desk" person. Another staff member, Vivian Thompson,
also spends time behind a desk, coordinating programs to help
clients live as independently as possible. She is, among other
things, supervisor of community support services, case manager
coordinator and coordinator of staffings in the day program. She
works with clients who live independently, some who live in CILAs
and those who live with their families.
People with mild
disabilities can often live on their own if they have the right kind
of support. This might be a homemaker program, help with money
management and budgeting, and transportation to and from grocery
stores and doctor’s appointments. Vivian sees that they get the
services they need to stay independent.
Families who keep
their disabled members at home may need help getting away for
shopping or a recreational break, and Vivian helps coordinate
respite care for them.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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Each client who comes
to the day program has a caseworker. The caseworker is part of the
team that makes an Individual Program Plan for each client, which
addresses his or her need for vocational training, education, work
and medical needs. Vivian coordinates these teams, too.
Director Gene Frioli
has been in charge of the facility for 16 years. He is assisted by
Carol McAfee, supervisor of administrative services, who has been
with the center for 23 years. Its parent company is Mental Health
Centers of Central Illinois, based in Springfield, a not-for-profit
community mental health agency.
[Twins
Jean and Jan have worked at the rehab center for 16 years. Both are
both going to state in the standing broad jump for Special
Olympics. Here they use a rip saw to cut up lumber for cleats for
Myers Industries. Safety features allow workers to use these saws
without accidents.]
Behind the office at
the rehab center, the visitor steps into a room that looks like a
machine shop. There is sawdust on the floor. Motors hum and whine
and screech as 40 workers concentrate on their various tasks. The
presence of a supervisor or even an unexpected visitor does not
distract them.
This is the site of
the regular work program, a sheltered workshop where clients make
products for three area industries. It is staffed by supervisor
Marcia Warner, definitely a hands-on rather than a behind-the-desk
staff person. Working with her are instructor and safety officer
Steve Coogan and Dennis Bernahl. "Bernie" designs the fixtures and
"jigs" the disabled work on so they are safe and easy to use. Jigs
are ingenious devices to help the clients perform specific tasks.
On this particular
day, some of the workers are making wood products, screw cleats and
glue blocks for Myers Industries of Lincoln. A pair of twins are
cutting raw lumber into eight different sizes with a table saw.
Others are trimming cleats to the right size, and still others are
punching holes in each cleat at precise intervals.
"We’ve had this
contract with Myers for more than 30 years," Marcia says. Other
workers are putting together amp straps for Cutler-Hammer, another
Lincoln firm. A plastic sleeve is slipped over a metal piece, and
the whole thing is bent into the correct shape. Still others are
"baking" the amp straps in a special oven.
[Marcia
Warner, supervisor of the regular work program, demonstrates the
drill punch, which has shields and slides so clients can work safely
and precisely.]
An ongoing project is
assembling kits for Cutler-Hammer; today workers are putting the
correct number and type of screws and labels into packages.
Altogether these workers assemble 40 kinds of kits for the Lincoln
manufacturer.
"The Cutler-Hammer
truck picks up and drops off work every day," Marcia says.
Inland Tool of Mount
Pulaski is another of the center’s contractors. For this firm, a
worker is putting foam strips around a hole in a metal plate. These
pieces, access plates for gas tanks, will be sent to Mitsubishi
Motors in Bloomington.
"We ship out
approximately 7,000 to 10,000 parts each day," Marcia says. "All
these firms are wonderful to work with, and their drivers enjoy
coming over here to drop off and pick up the work."
Clients here work
five hours a day, for which they are paid. They get two breaks and
lunch. Not a single worker says he or she doesn’t like the job; all
are quick to tell a visitor that they love it. Some proudly hold up
finished products to show what they are doing without slowing the
pace of their work routine.
Marcia likes her job, too. "I’ve got the
fun job, because it’s so varied. I get to work with our clients, and
I contact manufacturers and do bidding and procurement. And my
clients and my co-workers are my friends."
(To be continued)
[Joan
Crabb]
[Click here for Part
2]
|
|
Reading Rocks at
library this summer
Giveaways for adults and children
include bed and breakfast, maroon T-shirts
[MAY
30, 2002]
Reading Rocks at the Lincoln Public Library, where
youngsters from preschool through sixth grade can sign up now for
the summer reading program.
|
The program starts
with the big kickoff event June 1 at the Lincoln Park District
Recreation Center on Primm Road, where both youngsters and adults
can travel back in time with the nationally acclaimed Pioneer Living
Experience’s traveling museum. The reading program begins at the
library June 3.
All kinds of prizes
await youngsters who read at least one book per week and bring in
their reading log. Special Reading Rocks T-shirts will go to those
readers who reach the goals they have set for themselves, and area
schools who log the most readers will receive a trophy at the end of
the program.
[Photo by Joan Crabb]
[Four-year-old
Teran displays one of the shirts that will be a prize for children
enrolled in Reading Rocks, the Lincoln Public Library’s summer
reading program.]
"We will suggest
goals," says Pat Schlough, children’s librarian, "but we really want
children to set their own. We want everybody to have fun with this
program during the summer. It’s not going to be like a classroom."
Most of the prizes
will come from local food establishments such as Wendy’s,
McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Domino’s and Hardee’s.
Based on the books
read last year, librarians are expecting to give away at least 400
dark red T-shirts that say "Reading Rocks," but they’d be happy to
give away more.
Suggested goals are
25 books for readers from preschool through grade two, 12 books for
those in grades three and four, and eight books for those in grades
five and six.
[to top of second column in this
article] |
Plenty of activities
are waiting for young people at the library this summer. During the
four weeks of June, the children’s library will have story time at
10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays and at 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Story times are for children 3 to 5 years old.
Also at 10 a.m. on
Mondays is the Harry Potter club, for those age 8 and up.
Craft time is
scheduled for children in grades one through six on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m.
On Thursday mornings
at 10 a.m. special programs, including magicians, bagpipe players,
Miller Park Zoo animal visits, karaoke and puppets, will entertain
the young people.
The same schedule is
set up for the weeks of July 7, 14 and 21 There will be no programs
during the week of July 1 because of the July 4 holiday.
Although there has
been a children’s summer reading program at the library for 20 to 25
years, this is only the second year for the summer reading program
for adults. This is open to anyone from ninth grade through adults.
Fiction and
nonfiction, audio books, or magazines may be read, but the books
must be borrowed from the Lincoln Public Library collection. Each
time a book is finished, the reader fills out an information slip
that will be entered in the weekly prize drawings.
Drawings start the
week of June 14. That week, the prize is a car wash, wax and
interior detailing from the Detail Shop.
The prize for the
June 21 drawing is a gift basket from Abe’s Carmelcorn Shoppe, and
the prize for the next week, June 28, is a gift basket from Prairie
Years.
A $50 gift
certificate from Lincoln IGA is the prize for the July 12 drawing,
and a $50 gift certificate from MKS Jewelers is the prize for the
week of July 19.
The grand prize is
dinner for two at Capone’s plus an overnight stay in the Arabian
Room at Eckert’s Bed and Breakfast.
For more information, visit the library
at 725 Pekin St. or call 732-5732 (Linda Harmon) or 732-8878
(Richard Sumrall).
[Joan
Crabb]
|
|
General Assembly passes
electric rate freeze extension
[MAY
30, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — Electric rates for residential customers of
Illinois Power would remain frozen for an additional two years under
legislation approved by the Illinois Senate, according to Sen.
Claude "Bud" Stone.
|
"The freeze would
keep customers’ electric rates at lower than 1996 levels," said
Stone, R-Morton. "We passed this measure because there is such
uncertainty about future electric prices as a result of
deregulation."
Under Senate Bill
2081, the rate freeze on 750 kilowatt hours of usage will be
extended to Jan. 1, 2007. It was due to expire on Dec. 31, 2004,
under a deregulation law passed by the General Assembly in 1997. The
legislation passed Thursday also retains the earnings cap provision
included in the original deregulation law, which means that if
utilities have excess earnings, they must share half of the
excessive earnings with customers.
"The point of
deregulation was to allow the consumer to have the freedom to choose
to switch their electric service," said Stone. "The idea was to
create competition and thereby lower electric rates. Since no
alternative suppliers for residential electric power have come
forward at this time, the freeze extension allows more time for such
competition to develop. Meanwhile, it protects consumers from the
volatile wholesale market which they would be exposed to after the
freeze deadline was lifted."
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
The 1997 deregulation
law has already provided the climate for competition for business
customers statewide, who have the option of choosing service from up
to nine different companies. Mostly recently, the second phase of
rate reductions went into effect in Illinois, lowering electric
rates by 5 percent as of May 1, 2002, as called for under the
original law. An initial 15 percent rate cut went into effect in
1998. Deregulation is expected to save consumers about $2.8 billion,
with an additional $174 million under Senate Bill 2081.
Illinois Power has
about 650,000 electric and natural gas customers in Illinois. Within
the 45th Senate District, the utility’s service area includes
DeWitt, Logan, McLean, Piatt, Tazewell and Woodford counties.
The Senate approved the rate extension
legislation on a 58-0 vote, sending the measure to the governor for
consideration. The proposal has the support of the Citizens Utility
Board and AARP.
[News
release]
|
|
Legislators
fight to
restore LDC funding
[MAY
30, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — As the budget process nears an end, state
Reps. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, and Jonathan Wright, R-Lincoln,
filed legislation Wednesday to restore funding for the Lincoln
Developmental Center.
|
"Four hundred eighty
local families and the local community would be severely affected by
these proposed cuts," said Mitchell. "Our plan is to amend the
legislation so that funding for 240 residents and 480 employees is
included in the state budget."
Budget legislation
passed by the Senate yesterday and sent to the House does not
include adequate funding for the continued operation of LDC. The
amendment proposed by Mitchell and Wright calls for $27 million to
be appropriated to keep the facility open.
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
"The House
Republicans have gone through agency budgets line-item by line-item,
and we have been able to identify areas of the budget that can be
reduced that won’t hurt essential services and would enable us to
keep LDC operating," said Wright. "For years, persons with severe
developmental disabilities and their loved ones have come to rely on
LDC for their care. We feel that it is in the best interests of the
residents, their families and the local economy to keep this
facility operating strong."
The lawmakers expect to vote on the
budget amendment Wednesday and on a final state spending plan before
June 1.
[News
release]
|
|
Brauer pleads
for LDC funding
restoration
[MAY
30, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — Rich Brauer, Republican candidate for state
representative, announced his support of legislation filed Wednesday
to restore funding for the Lincoln Developmental Center.
|
Brauer attended a
press conference presented by state Reps. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth,
and Jonathan Wright, R-Lincoln, to show his support of the residents
and employees of LDC.
"The governor’s
original cuts would definitely impinge upon the residents, along
with the families and employees, of the Lincoln Developmental
Center," Brauer said. "I am backing Representative Mitchell and
Representative Wright in their fight to restore these proposed cuts.
This funding must be part of the new state budget."
According to Brauer,
the amended legislation calls for $27 million to be appropriated to
keep LDC open and in operation.
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
"The revised budget
has some new proposed reductions in the size of government; however,
there is not enough. More can be cut without cutting Illinois’ vital
services and programs," Brauer said. "I believe the House
Republicans have found more areas that can be scaled back in order
to restore funding to the Lincoln Developmental Center. The people
of this area are counting on it."
The Illinois General
Assembly is expected to pass a final state spending plan before
Saturday, June 1.
Rich Brauer is the Republican candidate
for state representative in Illinois’ new 100th District.
[News
release]
|
|
Senate passes responsible budget; bureaucracy cuts made
[MAY
30, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — Faced with a $2 billion budget deficit, the
Illinois Senate passed a new Fiscal Year 2003 budget plan that
contains $500 million in cuts while still protecting critical
services, according to Sen. Claude "Bud" Stone. It’s the first
hurdle in the budget process.
|
"Government must live
within its means, and this budget does that," said Stone, R-Morton.
"This is not a perfect budget proposal, but it is a responsible
plan. It reflects our struggling state economy and meets our
constitutional requirement for a balanced budget."
The measure maintains
funding for priorities such as human services. "The Medicaid program
is a vital program to ensure access to health care for all," said
Stone. "This plan restores 50 percent of the Medicaid rate
reductions originally proposed in February. There will be $330
million for hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies, practitioners and
managed-care providers."
The plan also keeps
education a top priority. The budget "includes $6.2 billion to allow
for a minimum level of $4,560 per student in state aid," Stone said.
"Additionally, $1 billion would be allocated for the successful
school construction grant program."
Stone says another
key element in the budget included a decision to add back $25
million in previous cuts to the Department of Corrections. "This
money will allow the department to make management decisions
with[out] political pressures. They can use this money to avoid
having to privatize prison commissaries," said Stone.
Budget plan
highlights
Agriculture
• $1,500,000 for AgriFirst.
• $6,060,900 grant for Soil and Water Conservation
Districts.
Economic development
• $2.5 million for coal research and development
projects.
• $6.0 million to provide bond-funded support to
projects that will help increase the use of Illinois coal.
• $1 million for continued ethanol research.
Elementary and secondary education
• $67.5 million for the School Safety and Education
Improvement Block Grant.
• $5.8 million new appropriation for the governor’s new
Universal Preschool Initiative.
• $180.4 million for the Early Childhood Development
Block Grant.
• $1,881,200 for agricultural education programs.
Higher education
• Public universities would be funded at the governor’s
proposed level.
Human services
• $5.0 million for full-year funding of 110 new
emergency CILAs for developmentally disabled people and $6.5 million
for annualization of 250 CILAs developed in FY02.
• $2.45 million in transitional funding for 100 CILA
placements of developmentally disabled people, evenly phased over
the course of FY03.
• $40.9 million, or 18.3 percent increase for the Home
Services program.
• Includes full restoration of funding to human
services providers, which was not included in the governor’s
original FY03 budget recommendation. This amount includes an
additional $16.5 million for MI Community Service grants, an
additional $32.8 million for community-based services for the
developmentally disabled and an additional $20.1 million for
long-term care for developmentally disabled people.
• $616.2 million for the department’s child-care
program, with no increase in child-care co-pay.
[to top of second column in this
article]
|
Natural resources
• $36.0 million for the Illinois Open Land Trust
program.
• $5,250,000 Capital Development Fund to be transferred
to the Conservation 2000 Project Fund for projects associated with
the Conservation 2000 program and the Illinois Rivers Initiative.
Public aid
• Implement SeniorCare program, offering expanded
pharmaceutical drug assistance to all senior at, or below, 250
percent of the federal poverty level.
• KidCare spending will increase by $24 million to
cover an additional 17,500 children. KidCare spending will total
$209.5 million in FY03 and provide health-care coverage for an
estimated 208,300 children.
Public safety
• $1 million to fund Public Water Supply Vulnerability
Assessments. This program allows the IEPA to provide grants to
public water suppliers for vulnerability assessments in order to
combat potential terrorism threats on the state’s various public
water systems.
• $14 million to fund the Brownfields Redevelopment
program, which helps fund the cleanup of brownfield sites throughout
the state by providing grants to local governments.
• $252 million for financial assistance to local
governments for sewer systems and wastewater treatment facilities,
under the Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan program.
• $98 million for financial assistance to local
governments and privately owned community water suppliers, for
drinking water infrastructure projects under the Drinking Water Loan
program.
Seniors
• Fully funds the Circuit Breaker/Pharmaceutical
Assistance program. The FY03 appropriation of $138,500,000 will
cover 256,000 property tax grants and 62,000 pharmaceutical
participants.
• $7,375,800 for the Elder Abuse and Neglect program.
• $6,618,500 for home-delivered meals.
State police
• Funding for 50 new cadets in FY03.
Transportation
• $2.3 billion for the FY03 road program.
• Increase of $4.1 million to downstate public
transportation systems.
• FY03 budget includes $45.6 million for rail
transportation, including $27.0 million to continue work toward
development of high-speed rail passenger service between Chicago and
St. Louis.
• Includes $10.6 million for Amtrak.
The Senate approved the plan on a vote of
30-26-2. The proposal now heads to the House for consideration.
Lawmakers have until midnight Friday to send a final budget plan to
the governor. After that, it will take a three-fifths majority to
approve any budget proposal.
[News release]
|
|
Attrition in police department
tests city’s month-old hiring freeze
[MAY
29, 2002]
The resignation of officer Chris Carmichael, who
represents the Lincoln Police Department on a six-county drug task
force, is severely testing the hiring freeze the city council set in
place a month ago to help solve city financial problems. Carmichael
is the second police officer to resign within the month.
|
At Tuesday night’s
committee-of-the-whole meeting, police committee chair Pat Madigan
placed the possibility of hiring a replacement for Carmichael on the
agenda for the June 3 meeting. Carmichael will leave the department
June 16 to join the state police. Officer Mike Buchanan, who
resigned effective May 7, was not replaced.
Chief of Police Rich
Montcalm said if a new officer is hired immediately, that person can
begin training at the state police academy June 17. Otherwise,
training cannot start until September.
Montcalm said it is
vital to replace Carmichael, who works full time and some overtime
with the Central Illinois Enforcement Group (the task force). Six
methamphetamine labs have been located in the city in just the month
of May and 18 in the preceding year. He said the task force is an
important asset for clearing them out.
The six counties
involved are Christian, Logan, Macon, Mason, Morgan and Sangamon.
Christian, Morgan and Sangamon supply two officers each, and Logan
furnishes one. To remain a member of the task force, the city must
also supply an officer.
If someone is hired,
a current officer would be transferred to the drug task force and
the recruit would replace that person on patrol, according to
Montcalm’s plan.
Steve Fuhrer, former
finance chair, said that although he supports the police department,
the city should not hire a new officer while layoffs are under
consideration. "We just said there was going to be a hiring freeze,"
he said, adding that no time to begin replacing was set when the
freeze was put in place. "We’re going to have to tighten our belts,
promote from within and make do with what we have to get the city
back in financial shape." He noted that attrition benefits the city
budget.
Alderman Bill Melton
reluctantly agreed. "The timing couldn’t be worse," he said. "This
is an important position, but still … we are desperate for funds."
Montcalm indicated
that if the city council wants to continue in the task force but not
to hire an officer, he will eliminate community policing programs.
He noted that, if
Carmichael is not replaced immediately, the state will reclaim the
unmarked vehicle it supplied for task force use. Some equipment in
the car was furnished by Lincoln police and will be kept. The covert
equipment supplied by the state will go back with the vehicle. If an
officer is hired later, the city will bear the cost of re-equipping
the car.
The city attorney,
Bill Bates, urged council members to determine the overtime costs if
no officer is hired. Like other items discussed Tuesday night, the
issue is on the agenda for the June 3 council meeting.
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
A second pending
issue is changing the earliest hour when liquor can be served in
public establishments on Sunday. Currently, the time is set at 1
p.m. Sean Taylor of Logan Lanes argued for a starting time of 11
a.m.
At the council
meeting Taylor gave four reasons: First, it is difficult getting
teams to travel for bowling tournaments if they cannot buy liquor
early in the match. Second, football pre-game shows begin at 11
a.m., and fans at sports bars want to be able to drink as they
watch. Third, NASCAR races also start at 11 a.m. Finally, brunches
are most often served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and restaurants want
to be able to serve wine.
Prior to the council
meeting on Tuesday night, the four members present of the
five-member ordinance committee voted unanimously to recommend
changing the hour to 11 a.m. for establishments that currently hold
1 p.m. Sunday licenses. The license fee would remain the same.
Other liquor
ordinance issues which will come before the council on June 3 are
creating a microbrewery license category and a possible additional
license. The latter issue involves a particular case, but ordinance
committee chair Fuhrer was not sure what type of license would be
needed.
All three issues are
on the June 3 agenda. If they pass, ordinance amendments will be
drawn up and voted upon. If those pass, there is still a 30-day
waiting period before they go into effect.
Also at the ordinance
committee meeting, Tom Albert and Reggie Payne of Albert Service
recommended that the city begin an inspection program for plumbing,
heating and electrical upgrades. They showed photographs of faulty
and dangerous wiring and plumbing in two local homes, one of which
Albert said had been completely rewired within the past year.
Albert and Greg
Tarter raised the issue of electrical inspections at the May 14
meeting. Fuhrer said he has collected codes from Bloomington and a
smaller city. The committee will consider these in investigating the
issue.
Finance chair Verl
Prather added an early retirement policy for city employees to the
June 3 agenda. The policy provides that employees who are at least
50 and have at least 20 years service can buy five years more on
their retirement. Employees must pay their share of the five years
within two years. The policy would offer a one-year window of
opportunity. September 2002 to September 2003 is the period
currently being discussed, but the council could set any year.
City Clerk Juanita Josserand said only
two employees of the street department have expressed interest in
early retirement, and money is available through a special Illinois
Municipal Retirement Fund levy to cover them. As a special levy, the
money cannot be used for any purpose but retirement funding. Bates
warned that costs should be figured for all eligible employees. "If
you pass it," he said, "they might develop an interest quick."
[Lynn
Shearer Spellman]
|
|
Illinois Senate
approves budget plan
[MAY
29, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — A balanced budget plan approved Tuesday by
the Illinois Senate holds some hope for area jobs, according to Sen.
Larry Bomke, R-Springfield.
|
Bomke made a
last-minute decision to support the proposal after the Senate
included an additional $25 million for the Department of
Corrections. This money could be used to keep sergeants on the job
and to avoid privatization of prison commissaries, two ideas the
governor proposed in his address on Memorial Day.
"I have fought
against layoffs and against privatizing food services," said Bomke.
"This certainly isn’t the budget I have worked for, but the plan
approved today includes some of the ideas myself, AFSCME and other
lawmakers have introduced to help save jobs for area families. The
addition of money for Corrections today helped me change my mind.
Once this money was added back to the budget, I felt I could support
the plan to keep the process moving."
If lawmakers do not
agree on a budget by Friday evening (May 31), it would take a
three-fifths majority to gain approval. If negotiations drag out too
long and the state’s fiscal conditions worsen, state employees could
go without paychecks, something Bomke didn’t want to see in light of
impending layoffs.
While this plan still
calls for nearly 6,500 layoffs, Bomke hopes many of these positions
will be filled due to increased funding for DOC, attrition and the
early retirement package he sponsored. More than 7,000 state
employees are expected to take advantage of this plan.
"No one wants to see
area families out of work," said Bomke. "It’s my hope that many if
not all of the displaced workers will be able to fill openings
created by the early retirement proposal."
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
The plan represents
$22.5 billion in general revenue funds and balances cuts in spending
with revenue enhancements, something Bomke and other Senate
Republican lawmakers have fought for during budget negotiations. It
also restores nearly $323 million in previous cuts to much-needed
services.
Other highlights of
the plan include the following:
• $6.2 billion for education including $3.18 billion
for general state aid and Hold Harmless, giving a foundation level
of $4,560 spent per pupil in state funding.
• Expanded funding for the school construction program.
• $1.5 million for the AgriFirst program to market and
package Illinois commodities locally to increase their value and
create jobs.
• $200 million in funding for LIHEAP to help low-income
families with their gas and heating bills.
• $1.5 million from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum Fund for the University of Illinois Springfield
for governmental studies.
• $40.9 million (18.3 percent increase) for the Home
Services program as well as full restoration of funding to human
services providers. This amount includes an additional funding for
mental illness community service grants, developmental disabled
community-based services and developmentally disabled long-term
care.
•
Partial restoration of the Medicaid rate reductions proposed by the
governor in February. This will ensure access to health care and
that the state pays its bills on time to hospitals and health-care
providers.
[News
release]
|
|
Gov.
Ryan announces
bioterrorism summit in Illinois
[MAY
29, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George
Ryan announced that the
Illinois Department of Public Health will team up with the
Illinois Public Health Association to sponsor “Preparing the
Heartland,” the Illinois Bioterrorism Summit 2002. The May 28-30
summit at the Hyatt Regency Oak Brook will provide a comprehensive
overview of the federal, state and local bioterrorism preparedness
activities and bring together approximately 800 public health
practitioners and first responders.
|
"This
multidisciplinary program was designed to benefit a broad range of
public health professionals involved in bioterrorism response," Gov.
Ryan said. "The conference will provide the latest on preparedness
activities, health and medical plans, emerging diseases, and new
treatment methods."
State homeland security and public health officials will be
joined by other conference speakers, including Richard Preston, a
journalist and best-selling author of nonfiction books about public
health disasters, including “The Hot Zone,” and “The Cobra Event.”
Neal L. Cohen, M.D., commissioner of New York City’s Department of
Public Health, also will address the conference. Dr. Neal will
discuss his involvement in the events surrounding Sept. 11,
including confronting the anthrax threat in Manhattan.
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
According to state
Homeland Security Director Matt Bettenhausen, "The program content
is especially relevant to state and local health professionals with
responsibilities in bioterrorism emergency response, along with
those involved in public health administration, environmental
health, nursing, communicable disease, laboratory, food protection,
immunization, hospital emergency services and other health areas."
The director of the Illinois Department
of Public Health, Dr. John Lumpkin, added: "The ultimate goal is to
provide conference attendees with new ideas and practical
information to assist them in preparing their communities."
[Illinois Government News Network
press release]
|
|
Gov. Ryan urges the General Assembly to put a responsible budget on
his desk
[MAY 28, 2002]
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan introduced a
new Fiscal Year 2003 budget proposal that solves the $2 billion
budget shortfall with cuts and new revenue and urged the General
Assembly to take the lead and put a responsible budget on his desk
during a joint Memorial Day session.
|
The new budget
proposal equals $22.451 billion in General Revenue Fund, or GRF,
allocations. GRF spending is about $260 million below the level
proposed in February.
"This budget is a
tough proposition to accept, but the alternatives before you —
stalemate, deadlock and inaction — are worse for the people of this
state," said Gov. Ryan. "It is time for us to show real leadership."
Through a combination
of cuts and new revenue, including tax increases, this new proposal
restores $323 million in previous cuts to important services
including:
• Restoring $165 million in state funds to provide
health care for the poor, which will allow for an additional $165
million in federal matching funds.
• Vienna Correctional Center will stay open.
• Restoring $75 million in cuts to developmental
disability and mental health services.
• Restoring funding to subsidize child-care programs,
eliminating an increase in child-care co-pays.
• Restoring full funding for immigrant services: $1.7
million;
• Increasing funds for Teen Reach: $1.3 million.
• Adding $2 million to the appellate defender’s office.
• Restoring $8 million to the homemakers’ program for
the aged and fully funding the Community Care Program in the
Department on Aging.
• Maintaining at the original 2002 level the fare
subsidy provided to the Regional Transportation Authority for the
elderly, students and the disabled.
• Funding for a new class of state police cadets in the
coming year, maintaining the commitment to keep our roadways safe.
• Funding the occupation of three cell houses at the
state’s newest maximum-security prison, in Thomson.
The governor’s new
proposal also includes $1 billion in short-term borrowing, which
will be repaid by the end of the fiscal year, to allow the state to
pay existing bills.
"It is unfair,
particularly to small businesses, that the state is not paying for
its goods and services because of our budget impasse," Gov. Ryan
said. "With this balanced budget proposal, I propose borrowing so
that we can get current on our bills and stave off financial ruin
for hundreds of small-business people."
The governor’s top
budget priority throughout his administration has been the education
of our children. This budget proposal includes $1 billion in new
bond funds for the highly successful school construction program. A
pilot project for a statewide "universal access" to quality
preschool programs and the "Great Start" program are also funded
under this proposal.
Several other
education initiatives are receiving full funding, including the
Merit Scholarship program and the Illinois Century Network. Adult
literacy programs, the Illinois Workforce Advantage program and
"Skills Match" will continue to receive funding.
This budget also
includes an appropriation of federal funds for Gov. Ryan’s
innovative new "FamilyCare" program to provide health insurance to
roughly 35,000 parents of children enrolled in the "KidCare"
program. It also expands the number of Community Integrated Living
Arrangements to help the developmentally disabled find a safe and
productive home in a real neighborhood.
Budget cuts of more
than $500 million are also proposed in other programs:
• Higher-education funding will be reduced by $62
million; $20 million of that amount will be met by eliminating a
fifth year of scholarships for students receiving grants from the
Monetary Award Program.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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• The Department of Corrections will save $50 million
by closing the Sheridan Correctional Center, as well as several work
camps and "boot" camps throughout the state, and some adult
transition centers. More than 400 sergeants from the ranks of
correctional officers will be laid off, saving $28 million.
Additionally, the proposal includes saving $25 million by pursuing
the privatization of food service operations in state prisons.
• The Department of Human Services will close 11 local
service offices throughout the state and the civil commitment wing
of the Alton Mental Health Center. Operations at the DHS central
offices in Chicago and Springfield will also be reduced. The TANF
grant increase will also be scaled down from the level proposed in
February, from 10 percent to 5 percent. Total savings from these
cuts will be $43 million.
• The Department of Public Aid, the Department of
Transportation, the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs,
the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois State Police
will reduce central operational costs at a savings of $40 million.
• The Department of Children and Family Services will
reduce administrative spending in areas that will not adversely
affect programs and services, saving $25 million.
• Anti-smoking programs, such as billboard advertising,
throughout Illinois will also be reduced by $23 million.
Gov. Ryan’s plan
includes $50 million in savings from implementing new personnel
management policies in every state agency over the next year,
including an early retirement program.
To ensure a balanced
budget, Gov. Ryan has also proposed measures that will generate
additional GRF funds. The proposal suggests shifting money within
the state budget from funds that are flush with cash to the General
Revenue Fund, allowing $150 million to be diverted to the GRF.
Additionally, $30 million from the Road Fund will be used to pay for
the operations of the Illinois State Police, and one-third of the
$90 million in unused reserves being held by the CHIP program will
be diverted for operations of that program.
"In my view, we
cannot cut the budget any deeper in order to bring revenues in line
with spending. To go any further would be harmful to the people we
are obligated to serve with these programs," added Gov. Ryan. "So we
must go in the opposite direction and make small changes to our
revenue structure in order to make ends meet."
Revenue-generating
proposals of $590 million include:
• Increasing the state’s cigarette tax by 50 cents,
raising $285 million.
• Increasing the tax on the windfall profits of
Illinois’ riverboat casinos, raising $185 million.
• Increasing the real estate transfer tax to $1.50 for
every $500 of equity, raising $120 million.
Additionally, the
governor’s proposal calls for continuing existing state practices in
regard to the depreciation of business investment for tax purposes
instead of participating in a new federal tax program. The federal
tax break will save Illinois businesses more than $2 billion, but
the state treasury will not lose $240 million and local governments
will not lose $150 million. Reallocating the distribution of the
real estate transfer tax will generate $15 million, and keeping the
state photo-processing tax in the state treasury will generate $25
million.
"I invite you to debate these proposals.
Submit your own ideas for needed spending. But if you add a dollar
in spending, you must also add a dollar in revenue to pay for it. I
won’t accept smoke and mirrors. I will use my veto authority to
bring spending in line with revenues. I will work with you around
the clock if necessary. In return, I only ask for one thing: Send a
responsible and balanced budget to my desk," said Gov. Ryan.
[Illinois
Government News Network
press
release]
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