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State Of Limbo Isn't Over For Illinois Social Services

unitedwayrrv.org

The financial struggle isn’t over for the organizations that provide social services to people in need in Illinois.

There are still a lot of questions about the stopgap budget passed by lawmakers, according to Paul Logli. He’s the president and CEO of United Way of Rock River Valley. Logli says providers have heard from a number of state agencies that they have 18-month contracts that expire January 1st.

But it’s still not clear how much funding will be restored and if organizations will be reimbursed for services provided last fiscal year. Not-for-profits are once again in funding limbo, since the budget only takes them halfway through the fiscal year. Logli says “The only thing that would have prevented it is if the legislature would have done their job and had passed a balanced budget as required by law, and passed it prior to June 1st and for the entire year.”

Logli says the only positives of the budget deal are that it was bi-partisan and schools will open. But those are outweighed by the long-term damage to a state that is showing it can’t function properly.

Logli says he will continue to advise providers not to deplete fund balances or borrow money because they may never be reimbursed by the state. He says the most important thing is to just stay alive until state government starts functioning properly again.

Susan is an award-winning reporter/writer at her favorite radio station. She's also WNIJ's Perspectives editor, Under Rocks contributor, and local host of All Things Considered.
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