Illinois Disability advocates claim closing state facilities, using group homes can save state millions of dollars : May 19 2011

Herald-Review.com : By KURT ERICKSON - H&R Springfield Bureau Chief

SPRINGFIELD - Disability advocates are again calling on lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn to shutter some of the state's institutions for the developmentally disabled as a way to help smaller group home operators survive possible budget cuts.

Faced with lengthy payment delays and threatened funding reductions, a coalition of community-based providers said Illinois could save $170 million if it closed four of the state's eight institutions.

The group didn't identify any specific institutions to close, but they could include state-run facilities in Anna, Dwight, Dixon, Centralia and Kankakee.

In an appeal to lawmakers at a news conference in the Capitol, Tony Paulauski, executive director of the Arc of Illinois, said community-based group homes are more than three times cheaper to operate than the state facilities. Yet, institutions are getting additional money while private providers could see funding reductions in the budget year beginning July 1.

"We're concerned you're cutting too deep," Paulauski said.

The state has been successful in closing large institutions in the past. Lincoln Developmental Center, for example, was shuttered by former Gov. George Ryan in 2001. Howe Developmental Center was closed last year.

However, Quinn has signed an agreement with the state's largest employee union pledging to not close any state facilities. That agreement expires in July 2012.

The pact with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 also bars Quinn from laying off any union workers in exchange for the rank-and-file employees deferring their scheduled raises and taking voluntary furlough days.

Paulauski said the general outlines of a state budget plan could result in nonprofit group home operators to close, hurting workers and the people they care for.

"We are not a line item," Paulauski said.

Some lawmakers agree that the state institutions should be closed.

State Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, called the facilities "dinosaurs."

"These should be closed as soon as possible," Leitch said.