A coalition of 99 human and social service agencies "Pay Now Illinois" serving Illinois' most vulnerable populations. Their purpose is seeking payment of more than $161 million from the state for more than 300 days of work performed under signed contracts.
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CHICAGO
Social service providers working without pay for more than a year because of Illinois' unprecedented budget struggles said Wednesday that they still haven't been paid after the approval of a short-term spending plan and will push ahead with a lawsuit to force funding.
The Pay Now Illinois coalition, made up of about 100 providers, sued Gov. Bruce Rauner and state agencies in May because of fallout from the yearlong budget impasse. Last month, lawmakers approved a stop-gap measure covering, in part, the past and current fiscal years. But the coalition said almost none of their providers had been paid.
Attorneys for the coalition and Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office briefly appeared in court Wednesday. Both sides said they needed time to assess recent budget developments and revise court filings. They return to court July 25.
Part of the issue is confusion over how Illinois will proceed in doling out funds authorized by the partial budget, which allows schools to open on time and funds other services until January. However, state officials were unable Wednesday to provide detailed answers about social services. Groups in the lawsuit provide health care, youth and elderly counseling and programs to fight sexual assaults and homelessness.
Comptroller Leslie Munger, whose office writes Illinois' checks, couldn't say how much had been paid related to the short-term budget. Munger's spokesman, Rich Carter, said vouchers sent to the office by state departments don't make the distinction and the situation was complicated by the partial budget dealing with two fiscal years. He said Munger would "prioritize" service provider payments.
Department of Human Services spokeswoman Marianne Manko said the office, which holds most of the coalition's contracts, was working "diligently" on helping those who "served the state's most vulnerable" during the impasse get paid.
"We ask for patience as we process payments as quickly as possible," she said in a statement.
Many groups have already had to scale back programs, lay off employees or close their doors completely. The lawsuit claims the "infrastructure of state-supported social services is at the risk of collapse."
Coalition spokeswoman Andrea Durbin estimated the groups are owed at least $161 million for unpaid work.
"Every day that goes by, that number grows," she said.
Pay Now Illinois seeks court intervention for immediate payment, arguing Rauner created an unconstitutional situation by vetoing money last year for services and then enforcing contract terms anyway. Rauner's spokeswoman has said the governor understands the frustrations but the answer lies in a "balanced, reform-oriented budget" agreement.
In a court filing, the coalition said it would add 17 more plaintiffs, bringing the total to 99. Among the most high-profile groups already in the lawsuit is the Chicago-based Ounce of Prevention Fund, which is run by Diana Rauner, the governor's wife.
The stop-gap plan doesn't end gridlock on a full budget. Since he took office last year, the first-term Republican governor has demanded union-weakening and pro-business reforms as a condition to a budget that includes a tax increase. But Democrats, who run the House and Senate, argue those ideas hurt the middle-class and should be separate from a budget.
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