By Hal Troupin
Illinois is planning devastating cuts to services for individuals with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities. These cuts target our most vulnerable citizens and are being sold as a way to balance Illinois estimated $13 billion deficit. The truth is, these cuts are short sighted and will send us on a path of destruction.
Illinois ranks last in the nation for supporting citizens with disabilities in their home communities. Disability services that are the life line to more than 220,000 people with disabilities and their families have already experienced deep cuts and are hanging by a thread. In addition to funding reductions several critical programs are being eliminated and its estimated that 3,052 direct care staff will be laid off as a result. At the same time the budget calls for the hiring of 950 state employees and grants union employees and 8.25% wage increase. The budget has the wrong priorities and the process is flawed.
There are currently three budget proposals on the table, The Governors, House and Senate. The House's estimate of revenues is about $2 billion lower than the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA), a bipartisan agency with a proven track record of making accurate revenue projections. Using CGFAs reasonable estimate of revenues could save critical disability programs.
The Senate's proposed budget disproportionately impacts individuals with disabilities by prioritizing programs that do not maximize taxpayer dollars. The Autism Program is reduced by 25% and the Centers for Independent Living is cut by 36%.
The Governor's budget appropriates $30 million to state institutions and cuts community based services by $76.3 million even though numerous studies prove community services are safer, more effective and efficient. Four people can be served in a community setting for every one person in an institution. This is unconscionable. Furthermore, the proposed budgets do nothing to address the backlog in payments owed to disabilty service providers. Some have been forced to shut their doors and others are on the brink of collapse because the state is six months behind in payments.
The disabled community can not withstand additional cuts. The budgets deepen the gap to accessible disability services and does nothing to address the 21,000 people in the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Serivces (PUNS) database who are desperately waiting for state services.
Most people would agree that services to help people with disabilities live life with independence, equality and dignity are the kind of programs that are worthy of taxpayer funds. That is what our society was built on. It is what our founding fathers had in mind when developing the system of government. We must provide assistance to help those who truly and desperately need it. Its not a hand out its common decency. Now its up to our lawmakers to make the right choices.
Thanks to Teri Steinberg,IAMC, Disability Advocate and Tony Paulauski, Executive Director, The Arc of Illinois for bringing this to our attention.
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