1. health and fitness

National Association of Social Workers, IL Chapter
BREAK OUT: BUDGET ISSUES
April 14, 2015
Emily Miller
Director, Policy and Advocacy
Voices for Illinois Children
emiller@voices4kids.org
@ejmill
Governor’s Reckless Budget Proposal
Cuts
$6 billion
to universities, health care, local governments,
pensions*, and critical services relied on by Illinois
children, families, and communities
* $2.2 billion in proposed pension cuts are almost certainly
unrealizable in FY 2016. Without revenue, this amount will have to
be cut from other parts of the budget.
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Governor Rauner’s 2016 budget includes:
 $1.5 billion cut to Medicaid
 $462,000 cut for child vaccines
 $148 million cut to child protection
 $135 million cut to child care
 $200 million cut to public transit
 $600 million cut to local gov’ts
 $387 million cut to public
universities
 $165 million to heating assistance
 $82 million cut to mental health
treatment
 $28 million cut to substance abuse
treatment
 $62 million cuts to services for
people with developmental
disabilities
 $110 million cut in in-home nursing
services for people with disabilities
 $9.8 million for breast and
cervical cancer screenings
 $6 million cut to HIV/AIDS
prevention, pharmaceuticals,
other services
 Elimination of community-based
grants for autism, epilepsy,
respite care and sudden infant
death syndrome.
 $23 million cut to services for
developmentally disabled infants
and toddlers
How We Got Here
Income Tax Cut + Refusal to Propose New Revenue
25%
Income Tax Cut
Took Effect
Jan. 1, 2015
$5-6 Billion
Lost Revenue in
Fiscal Year 2016
(begins July 1)
No New Revenue + All Cuts Budget = Deep Cuts
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Not Just Numbers On A Spreadsheet
Elimination of community-based grants for
autism, epilepsy, respite care for family
members caring for a loved one
155,000 poor families lose
heating assistance
Increased
university tuition
14,000 youth lose access
to after school
opportunities
Over 12,000 fewer women
Cut off infants and
receive cancer screenings
toddlers with
“moderate”
development delays
from services to help
them catch up
Children aged 6-12
can no longer enroll in
child care assistance
2,400 young adults
transitioning from foster
care to independence
lose services
Increased public
transit fares and
service cuts
Deny in-home nursing
services to seniors and
those with severe
disabilities
Restrict mental health
and substance abuse
treatment  increase
other costs later
Medicaid patients
cannot receive
dental / podiatry
care
1,300 homeless
youth lose supports
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Illinois families & communities have already been cut since 2009.
Program
Child
Protection
Cuts 2009-2015
Impact already felt
Governor’s additional
cuts
$193 million (22%)
Higher caseloads,
violations of federal law
Another 20% budget cut
Another $1 million cut
Homeless
Prevention
Child Care
Assistance
Teen REACH
(afterschool)
Mental Health
Treatment
60% cut
Increased parent
copayments and reduced
eligibility
More than 50% cut
$113 million cut
8,600 fewer families
receive help
11,000 fewer children get
assistance
 nearly 1,000 more
families go without
homeless prevention
6 year olds stay home
alone, parents can’t
afford to work
 100,000 kids lose
access
13,500 fewer youth
participate
Completely Eliminated
 14,000 more youth
lack opportunities,
increased youth violence
More illness means
increased hospitalization
and institutionalization
 $131 million increased
costs
Additional $82 million cut
Does Illinois Have A Spending Problem?
Spending on Illinois Services* Has Decreased 24 Percent Since FY 2000,
Adjusted for Inflation and Population Growth
*Excludes Group Health.
Source: Center for Tax and Budget Accountability
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Illinois Has Below-Average Revenue
After 2011 Income Tax Increase, Illinois Was Still Below U.S. Average
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Illinois Has Lowest Income Tax in Midwest
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What Businesses Really Want
What are top 2 factors for
CEOs when deciding where
to locate?
1. Educated workforce
How do you build a strong,
educated workforce?
1. Invest in education
2. High-quality infrastructure
2. Reduce barriers associated
with poverty
3. Attract educated persons
from elsewhere with strong
public schools, safe and
vibrant communities
Who said the following?
“Any company that makes a decision about
where they are going based on the tax rate is
a company that won’t be around very long. If
you’re down to that incremental margin you
don’t have a business.
Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg
and former Mayor of NYC
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What does a good budget look like?
Good government invests in children, families, schools,
businesses and communities so that local economies thrive.
Competitive Public
K-12 Education Local Police and
Fire Protection
Parks and
Recreation
Safe Roads
and Bridges
Community grants for autism,
epilepsy and respite care
Human Services
Afterschool Programs
Nutrition Support
Cancer Screening and
Treatment
Public
Transportation
Quality, Affordable
College
Homeless Prevention
Affordable,
Accessible
Health Care
Early Intervention
Child Care
Immigrant &
Refugee Services
Dental and Mental
Health Services
Violence
Prevention
Preschool
for All
Family-friendly
Workplaces
Good Jobs
Community Care
Job Training
What You Can Do
Join Responsible Budget Coalition:
 Adequate revenue to support state priorities and make smart investments
 No more cuts to vital programs and services
 Fairness in raising revenue and making cuts if failure to raise adequate
revenue
Contact Lawmakers:
 Call the district offices of your state senator and representative
 Provide examples of how real people are impacted by cuts to vital services
 Encourage other influencers to do the same (e.g., Board of Directors)
When advocating for your budget area, also advocate for more revenue.
Without revenue, all budget areas are at risk – and it will be impossible to
strengthen our families and communities to build a stronger Illinois.
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Social Media
Facebook/ResponsibleBudgetCoalition
@respbudgetil
#nocuts
#twill
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