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State Budget for Human Care
The Illinois General Assembly is approaching the final two weeks of its regularly-scheduled spring session. There are two major issues that have not been resolved:
The State Budget for the Fiscal Year that begins July 1
A Capital Construction Plan to create jobs and build and rebuild our state’s neglected infrastructure (roads, bridges, schools, etc.). This issue is dependent on an agreement for how to fund the $25 billion or so in bonds needed to finance the large construction projects.
The first issue—priorities in the state budget—should be of great concern to everyone who believes that the state needs to invest more resources in the care of people in need. Common sense tells us that when funding remains the same from year to year, the costs of providing services don’t stay constant. Because of inflation—and especially the increased cost of fuel and health care—the cost of providing services increases each year.
Here’s our simple message:
Please make sure that the state’s budget for fiscal year 2009 includes a 3% cost of doing business adjustment for all community-based human service contracts. It is estimated that the total cost of a 3% increase is around $175-$200 million dollars, a very small percentage of a state budget of close to $50 billion.
It is very important that Governor Blagojevich and your members of the state legislature hear from you right now!
This may be the only chance we have this year to make a difference, especially in the House of Representatives, which held a series of hearing on human services needs. Rank and file members of the House need to hear from their legislators that the care of people in need is a top priority for their constituents - that’s you.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: State Budget for Human Services
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Please make sure that the state's budget for fiscal year 2009 includes a 3% cost of doing business adjustment for all community-based human service contracts. It is estimated that the total cost of a 3% increase is around $175-$200 million dollars, a very small percentage of a state budget of close to $50 billion.
Sincerely,
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