He told The Associated Press on Thursday that the closures
are necessary for a better budget. He declined to give any specifics
on the closures, saying details would come during his budget address
Wednesday. Quinn announced last month that he wants to close a
Tinley Park mental hospital and a Jacksonville center for people
with developmental disabilities in an effort to move people out of
state institutions and into community care, like group homes.
His budget office predicted the two closings would save nearly
$20 million.
Quinn has said his budget proposal will also include cuts to
Medicaid. Quinn wants to slash about $2 billion of Illinois'
approximately $14 billion Medicaid budget.
[Associated Press]
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