Illinois rehabilitation programs fear budget shortfall

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois rehabilitation services could face a $110 million shortfall in programs that cover mental health and developmentally-disabled adults.

The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises (http://bit.ly/1zJ2ioP ) reports payments that support the two programs are slowing.

The $35.7 billion budget lawmakers passed in May does not include enough money for the rest of the fiscal year. Vital state programs are waiting to see how Gov. Bruce Rauner and the legislature will keep funds flowing.

Rauner aides have asked for wider authority to use state money to address a $300 million budget shortfall to fund a subsidized daycare program through June 30.

Greg Shaver, executive director of Kaskaskia Workshop in Centralia, says the funding problem "is about to unveil itself." He says rehabilitation programs went for months without payments five years ago.

___

Information from: Southern Illinoisan, http://www.southernillinoisan.com