The State of Illinois government recently announced cuts in its budget.The Governor said that these cuts will save the taxpayers money. Really? In many cases, these cuts will be funds that go to not for profit agencies whcih help people in need. The people these agencies serve are mostly poor, mentally-ill, disabled, substance abusing individuals. Many of them have been victims of sexual and physical abuse growing up. The State of Illinois believes it will save money by cutting these needed services. True? Let me tell you a story about Texas.
Last year in Dallas, Texas, nine individuals - nine - cost the State of Texas over 2 million dollars. Why? Because these nine were people who were poor, mentally-ill, and most had problems with alcohol or drugs. They cost the state that money because these nine ended up in hospital emergency rooms over 150 times in one year! They were in the ERs because there was no where else to go for services. So, taxpayers ended up paying for them anyway! The State of Texas would have saved a lot of money if the state had paid for effective mental health and substance abuse counseling instead of cutting these programs.
The same thing will happen here in Illinois. If the Governor and Legislature do not pass a budget, then many not for profits will cut programs. Already, several agencies have closed their doors. So where will people in need go? They will end up on the streets. The police and paramedics will have to use their time and energy to deal with these people instead of fighting crime. Again, there will be no choice but to bring these people to hospital ERs. So, while you are waiting to get help for your family member who was brought in with an emergency, the hospital staff will have to deal with someone who should not be there, but the state cut those preventive services. Some of these people will have to go to state hospitals (where the cost of running programs is much higher per person than out-patient services) or jail (which costs tax payers a lot of money).
The State of Illinois is not saving us money. Cutting programs to the neediest, most wounded people in our society does not make sense. It is non-sense!
One other point, in "NEWSWEEK" magazine for Aug.16,2010, an article points out the following: "Ilinois' top politicians, who helped the Prairie State become only one of two states with a projected deficit for next year, made $22,000 more than the average person they represent."