Social-service groups waiting for details on future cuts

Suburban agencies that serve the poor, the disabled and other at-risk populations aren't exactly sure what to make of the budget approved this week by state lawmakers.

On the face of it, the spending plan looks better than the skeletal budget Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed earlier this month. Social-service providers say that instead of a 50-percent cut in funding, they're looking at cuts in the 10 percent to 14 percent range.

But many agencies have already laid off employees and cut programming, due to the state's inability to approve a budget by July 1. Getting those resources back won't be easy.

And 14 percent is still a brutal cut, providers say. Right now, they have no idea what programs will fall victim to Quinn's knife.

"We absolutely don't know. That uncertainly has made things incredibly difficult," said Sheila Lullo, vice president of adult services at Clearbrook, an Arlington Heights-based agency that serves children and adults with developmental disabilities. Lullo said Clearbrook leaders expect to receive information about specific cuts within 10 days.

Lawmakers restored a chunk of funding for social service groups in the budget by agreeing to borrow $3.5 billion, money which will have to be paid back with interest. But Quinn still must trim $1.3 billion from the budget, and he hasn't provided details on where those cuts might be made.

The summer has already been a difficult one for suburban social-service groups. Clearbrook laid off 25 people at the beginning of the month. The Aurora-based Association for Individual Development laid off 80 people. These and other agencies have had also had to cut programs. The Rev. Denver Bitner, president of Des Plaines-based Lutheran Social Services, said his group has had to cut some behavioral health services for troubled children as a result of the state's budget woes.

"The process has literally been a nightmare," Bitner said. "And now it seems like the state has just pushed everything further down the road, and down that road is an oncoming train."

Lisa Reyes, spokeswoman for Little City Foundation of Palatine, said the organization has eliminated grant-funded portions of several programs after being notified by the state that it has lost $1.2 million in grants. Little City provides a variety of services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Reyes said Little City will wait to hear more details from state leaders before enacting additional cuts. Executive Director Shawn Jeffers said he won't wait silently.

"Our legislators might be out of session for a few months, but we will be busy talking with them and letting them know the effects these cutbacks are having on our organization," he said. "We need Springfield to fix this mistake, and fix it as soon as possible."