Erie Family Health Center

California.  The Golden State.  Hollywood.  Movie Stars.  Disneyland.  The Redwood Forest.  If the United States was a class of fifty high school kids, California would be the Prom Queen, class president and valedictorian.  It’s a place where stars are born, the surf is always high and the sun always shines.

So even when the news coming out of this sparkling gem out West isn’t positive, it certainly still remains center stage.  We’ve read, seen and listened to all the reports that have covered the California budget crisis.  As legislation continues to pass hands between Governor Schwarzenegger and Californian lawmakers, the press continues to write all about it.

Meanwhile, the state of Illinois sits at the back of the class, averting its eyes and twiddling its thumbs.  Us Illinoisans don’t want to brag (really, we don’t) but Illinois has its very own budget crisis – one that rivals the state of California. This comes as shocking to many, but by the time the Times Magazine article, “The Great California Fiscal Earthquake” hit the presses, Illinois was staring down the barrel of its own financial meltdown.

What’s going on in Springfield?

If you only can remember two things from all of this crazy budget talk, remember these two numbers: $24.5 billion and $13 billion.  The first number is the amount the Illinois government has deemed as ‘spending money,’ which is to be utilized for education, health care, public safety, child welfare and other social services.  And $13 billion is the total deficit for the state of Illinois.

For all you mathematicians out there, you read it right – the Illinois budget deficit is more than half of the overall state budget.

Governor Quinn took the stage on March 18th to propose his budget plan for fiscal year 2011.  Quinn certainly didn’t sugar coat the direness of the situation, stating that the budget deficit was “the greatest crisis [for the state of Illinois] of modern times.” His budget plan, among other things, proposed a series of budget cuts, specifically in the areas of health and human services and education. 

Governor Quinn’s budget plan will cut funding from the Community Health Expansion Act by $3.6 million.   When you combine this with the near $2.9 million that was cut in the last budget, most funding has essentially been cut from the program, which helps community health centers expand their services.  Education also took a colossal-sized hit, with $1.3 billion cut in funding. 

So what does this all mean?

Cuts in spending may make a dent in the $13 billion number that is etched in everyone’s minds, but it doesn’t solve the problem.  A $1.3 billion dollar cut in education will mean huge layoffs for teachers and other school personnel.  Other layoffs that will occur through cuts to health and human services organizations will also contribute to the Illinois unemployment pool.

Those that become unemployed most likely will end up without adequate health insurance, which will lead them to seek quality and affordable health care through community health centers (like Erie). Lack of funding for expansion for these health centers, though, will make it increasingly difficult – if not impossible – to support new patients.

 

And the answer is….

The solution may be a mystery at this present time.  One thing is certain, though – time is of the essence.  July 1st starts the next fiscal year–the date that the ink on the 2011 budget plan needs to be dry. Last year, July 1st came and went without a solution and the Governor’s Doomsday Budget became a reality. Budgets were slashed up to 50% for many state agencies and programs.  Many social services agencies – including community health centers – were forced to close their doors to thousands of people.  This year, July 1st is once again quickly approaching and Springfield must seriously consider if education and health care are worth the gamble.   

Tags: community health, deficit, education, Erie, Illinois Budget Crisis, Politics