Cutting services now will cost us all more
Illinois' budget situation is staggeringly bad, but state legislators who are thinking they can dig their way out of an $11 billion deficit by cutting community services to Illinois residents need to think again.
Food is flying off the shelves and lines have lengthened at food pantries. The foreclosure crisis has raised housing costs for thousands of families and put many in jeopardy of homelessness. Job cuts and reduced hours have reduced wages and health benefits. We are in the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. Yes, we all need to tighten our belts and find efficiencies, but cutting the systems that help Illinois citizens learn, work and achieve not only won't solve our fiscal woes, it is shortsighted and counterproductive.
Every person's life in Illinois is improved when elderly people get the help they need to remain in their own homes; when individuals with disabilities live full, healthy lives; when children are protected from the adults who abuse and mistreat them; when teenagers have somewhere to go after school; and when people who want to turn their lives around have access to alcohol or drug treatment programs.
Despite the fact that small investments in preventive community services offer significant savings to the public - up to $8 returned for every $1 spent - we have chronically underfunded these programs for the last ten years. That's not only bad people policy, it's bad for our economy. Communities supported with bedrock public services such as home-care for the elderly, violence prevention, work force training and early childhood learning are healthier and safer, require less financial support from the state, and are better able to weather economic challenges.
Our community services are part of a public infrastructure that must be maintained - especially now - or we will find ourselves in worse financial shape.
Nancy B. Ronquillo
Chair, Illinois Partners for the Common Good
President & CEO, Children's Home + Aid
Jack Kaplan
Chair of Legislative Advocacy, Illinois Partners for the Common Good
Director, Public Policy and Advocacy United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and United Way of Illinois
Betty Brisk
Director of Communications