ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Illinois doesn’t spend enough money to help people with developmental disabilities, so Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to spend even less makes no sense.
Last week Quinn announced plans to close seven state facilities — including Singer Mental Health Center in Rockford and Jack Mabley Development Center in Dixon — because he says there’s not enough money in the budget to keep them open. The move is expected to save $54.8 million.
State institutions are not the only entities to take a hit. Illinois has cut spending for community-based programs by $4 billion during the last 10 years — $76.3 million in the 2012 budget alone.
There’s no place for developmentally disabled people to go if they can’t access community programs, can’t live in institutions and can’t be taken care of by their relatives.
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