Quinn finally sets DHS cut at $57 million

[March 12, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- With about three months left in the fiscal year's budget, Gov. Pat Quinn's administration this week finally settled on a $57 million budget cut to the Illinois Department of Human Services.

The budget reduction was initially $208 million, then it was reduced to about $100 million "due to finding further efficiencies," according to Governor's Office of Management and Budget spokeswoman Kelly Kraft.

But Quinn allocated more money to DHS on Thursday, using the authority given to him by the Legislature this budget year to make lump-sump budget appropriations or reductions.

"Due to the governor's lump-sum (appropriation), that (budget) reduction stands at $57 (million)," Kraft said.

DHS Secretary Michelle Saddler said in the past that tough economic times are putting more demand on services.

Frank Anselmo, chief executive officer of Community Behavioral Healthcare Association, can testify to that. He said providers will have to juggle managing a combination of cuts and delayed payments.

CBHA is an association of some 95 providers of mental health, substance abuse and youth services.

"It'll be another impact on consumers importantly," Anselmo said. "Between 10,000 to 30,000 people may lose care additionally, on top of the 70,000 who have already lost care."

Anselmo said he appreciates the state's budget cut reconsideration, but his clients would still face additional cuts.

"There's still continuation of disproportionate cuts to funding that comes from the Department of Substance Abuse to the community of $7 million for the rest of this fiscal year, which only has less than four months to go, and an additional $5 million in cost reductions to community providers supported by the Department of Mental Health," Anselmo said.

He said DHS cuts should concern everyone at a community level. He said he's spoken with law enforcement about people who will be displaced because of the loss of treatment options.

"Where do these people go," he asked, "in the middle of treatment when the people who need this help, the working poor, are thrown out of the treatment care programs?"

Another DHS division on substance abuse dodged the deeper cuts, according Eric Foster, chief operating officer of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association.

IADDA represents more than 50 prevention, treatment and recovery organizations.

"There is that $57 million that DHS is being cut. Addiction treatment services are not a part of those cuts," Foster said. "We received word from Department of Alcoholism and Substance abuse, as well as (DHS) Secretary Saddler, that the governor's office has not cut addiction treatment services for the rest of FY 2011."

Foster said his division is now anxious about the upcoming 2012 fiscal year DHS budget.

"If an agency is to lose their state funding, which oftentimes is the most significant portion of their budget, it threatens their ability to provide comprehensive adequate services to the people in their community," Foster said.

[Illinois Statehouse News; By MARY J. CRISTOBAL]