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Editor’s note: The following is the first in a series of stories detailing how southern Illinois social services could be affected by proposed state budget cuts.
Michelle Stewart does not want to quit school, but said state budget cuts could leave her no choice.
Stewart, a sophomore from Chicago in paralegal studies, said she would not be able to afford child care if the proposed state budget takes effect. Stewart was among hundreds who protested the cuts at a rally Thursday in Carterville.
The budget could reduce every social service program by 50 percent, leaving hundreds of working families stranded without affordable child care and eliminating many senior services.
In March, Gov. Pat Quinn proposed the first income tax increase in 20 years to make up for a portion of Illinois’ $11.5 billion deficit. The income tax rate would increase from 3 percent to 4.5 percent on incomes more than $60,000 a year.
Parents and educators assembled near Channel 12’s studio in Carterville as they held posters displaying their support for the 1.5 percent proposed tax increase, which could make up for $850 million in budget cuts planned by Quinn.
Lori Longueville, director of Child Care Resource and Referral, a state funded family assistance program, said if the cuts are made, more than 1,700 area residents would lose their benefits. The cuts would mean four out of five families receiving aid would lose it.
“It’s gonna take some energy to fight this,” Longueville said.
Earlier Thursday, a caravan of protesters delivered more than 10,000 balls to local representatives — one ball for each child in the legislative district.
When the caravan arrived at the office of Rep. Mike Bost, he stood at the door to greet them. The protesters read a prepared speech requesting that he fax an urgent message directly to Springfield. Bost agreed and informed them the balls would be sent to Springfield as well. Bost did not vote in favor of the tax increases.
The Legislature failed to pass Quinn’s budget proposal and tax increase, agreeing only on a spending level that would not cover state expenses. The session ended without the state having a budget.
However, Quinn and legislative leaders have been meeting once a week in Chicago where they must pass a budget by June 30 — the end of the fiscal year. Without a full year budget, social services will be cut.
Quinn has been trying to persuade lawmakers to pass an income tax increase by talking to social service agencies about deep cuts he says are necessary under the partial budget legislators passed.
Illinois Republican leader Christine Radogno called it ``morally unacceptable’’ for Quinn to instill panic over threatened budget cuts in human services.
The partial budget, passed earlier this year by the Democrat-controlled Legislature, doesn’t have enough money to pay for state government, and some say it will force $7 billion in cuts, largely targeting social services.
“The people benefiting from these services are being drug into this and used as pawns, by one side or the other, to sway legislators,” Bost said.
Tears were common among the parents, educators and local service directors who spoke at the budget rally. Stewart, who brought her three young children to the rally, was one of many SIU students who announced that they would have to quit school if the budget cuts were enacted.
Williamson County State’s Attorney Charles Garnati excited the crowd with a speech directed toward officials at the state’s Capitol.
“All it takes is for them to vote the right way, and all they need is the courage to do it,” he said. “We gotta stick ‘em in a doggone room and not let ‘em out until we get a fair budget.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Christina Spakousky can be reached @ 536-3311 ext. 259.
