WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderGovernor Quinn announces which areas will see budget cuts

Governor Quinn announces which areas will see budget cuts

CHICAGO (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn is spreading a limited supply of money among Illinois government agencies while warning that more is needed for preschool, college scholarships, health care and other services.

The Democratic governor says the budget leaves Illinois with about $1.4 billion in unmet needs. He says more revenue must be found.

Quinn and lawmakers agreed on a new state budget that left him with the job of cutting spending by at least $1 billion and deciding where to spend a pool of about $3.4 billion.

Quinn announced his plans Friday afternoon.

He put much of the money into grants for local services such as mental health and drug counseling. Programs for the elderly and for abused children also get funding, but Quinn says Medicaid, preschool and college scholarships aren't getting enough money.

Social service agencies say the biggest immediate problem they see in Gov. Pat Quinn's budget plan is the $3.9 billion in unpaid bills it will not cover.

Both public and private agencies said Friday that they need the money the state owes them.

Julie Pryde is the administrator at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. She says the state owes her office almost $2 million. The money covers things like restaurant inspections and TB treatment.

Pryde says the wait for state money is crippling.

David Jensen of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois says his agency has been paid about $2 million for the more than $8 million of state work it's done the past eight weeks.