Human service groups worried by budget proposal

The state budget crunch has seven non-profit human service groups fearful they could be forced to cut services.

The directors of ADV & SAS, Easter Seals, Friendship House, Horizon House, North Central Behavioral Health Systems, Streator Unlimited, and YSB say together they stand to lose $2,093,035 if the state budget is approved as proposed. 

Jim Monterastelli is the director of Horizon House.  He went through this before last year, when they cut staff, salaries, and scaled back services.  He says the current budget proposal would cut them by another $232,000.

He says they’re working on what they would do in the worst-case scenario and what things could be could be cut.  It doesn’t help that the state is behind with their payments.  They received a check for $500,000 Thursday and are still owed $1.2 million. 

Despite uncertainty, he says they still have many services, but they may not be offered as often.  Monteraselli says their basic needs are being met.