Agencies call on state to pay bills
The Northwest Herald has another article today about the State’s continuing budget crisis. Although it hasn’t been in the news much since the “Compromise” that approved a stop-gap budget this summer, the crisis is far from over as this article explains. Although the subject of this article is specifically Senior Citizen services. all social service agencies in the state have been effected.
“CHICAGO – Social service organizations that serve the elderly said Thursday that dozens of agencies could close, hundreds of workers could lose jobs, and thousands of seniors could be forced into nursing homes in coming months if the state doesn’t make good on millions in unpaid bills.
The AARP and agency leaders called on state officials to come up with immediate solutions, including short-term borrowing, to keep the system afloat. They estimated 175 agencies are waiting for $200 million from the state, including some who haven’t been paid since June.
“The wolf is at the door,” state Rep. Greg Harris said. “These decisions can’t be put off any more.”
More than 60,000 seniors depend on social services that are funded by state money in order to stay in their homes rather than go into nursing homes, according to the AARP. Those services include home meal delivery, transportation to medical appointments and adult day care.” You can read that story here.
Locally, the subject came up at State Representative Mike Tryon’s “Town Hall meeting” also: “When is the state going to pay its bills?” asked Jeff Kurth, vice president of finance for Pioneer Center for Human Services in McHenry.
Kurth said the state owed the nonprofit organization $1.5 million.
Tryon said state officials had created a system to deal with outstanding payments but said he didn’t know when all the bills would be paid.” You can read that story here.
December 11 2009 04:13 pm | In the news and Programs