With the state of Illinois in financial turmoil, Governor Pat Quinn proposed a budget plan for fiscal year 2010, one that will include a reduction of funds to HIV prevention and care. The proposal, which was released March 18, is part of a working process to help close the state’s $11.6 billion budget deficit.
“This deficit comes from a number of things, one of which includes the poor economic climate” said Katherine Ridgway, Spokeswoman for Gov. Quinn. “But it was pretty much created by a former administration who hadn’t reined in spending as we are trying to do now. Unfortunately, tough choices have to be made. These are decisions that Gov. Quinn did not want to make, but had to make in order to be fiscally responsible.”
According to Ridgeway, one of these tough choices would be a three percent reduction in spending for all agencies other than education, health care and public safety. This would result in $1.3 billion dollars in cuts to help solve the state’s short-term deficit without sacrificing long-term priorities.
But a three percent cut for HIV spending could mean a reduction of nearly $630,000 over fiscal year 2009. This has some HIV/AIDS advocates worried as the proposal compromises major programs in the HIV sector.
“We are concerned,” said John Peller, Director of Government Relations for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC). “We feel that a cut of $630,000 to two HIV lines—one of them is HIV prevention and care and the other one is for HIV-positive prisoners who are returning to the community—could really destabilize some really important programs.”
With about 1,500 people diagnosed as HIV-positive every year in the state of Illinois, as well as people living with HIV, living longer, Peller explained that the demand for HIV services would only continue to increase over time.
“With the economy in the shape it is in, HIV service providers are really struggling with private fund raising,” he said. “We recognize that the governor proposed some budget reforms that are very important. Without these budget reforms, we’d be looking at much larger cut for HIV funding that is essential for low income and vulnerable people. We know that keeping government resources constant and level is essential in these times, so we are going to be working with the governor’s office and with legislators to make sure that the HIV budget cuts are reversed.”
The AFC is also concerned about the future of supportive housing services, which house people living with HIV/AIDS. The organization was denied a funding increase of $3 million and was appropriated the same level of funding in the new fiscal year.
“This is not good news,” said the Rev. Stan J. Sloan (Photo by Andrew Davis) , Chief Executive Officer for Chicago House. “We need every dollar we can possibly get for our services, so this will have a negative impact.”
The Chicago House & Social Service Agency is a member of the Supportive Housing Providers Association and has been providing housing for those living with HIV/AIDS for over two decades. Although the Chicago House does not rely heavily upon state funding, Rev. Sloan knows it will directly affect the clients he serves.
“As HIV/AIDS continues to progress, it increasingly hits communities that are unable to financially cope with it,” he said. “My primary concern would be that this budget cut hits services that keep people alive. I feel like our state has been so mismanaged for so long, Gov. Quinn is at least looking realistically at the big picture with all the plans in the budget. I applaud him for that, but balancing it on the backs of those most vulnerable is not the way to do it.”
Gov. Quinn is currently working with the general assembly to get the budget passed. The proposal must be reviewed by the legislature before it can be approved. The AFC assured that they will be working closely with the governor and legislators to prevent any further HIV-related spending reductions and potentially increase funding for supportive housing programs.
“I think that Gov. Quinn is definitely willing to work with people on the budget,” said Ridgway. “But understand that because we have this budget deficit, the state is unable to pay its bills on time and that is hurting those organizations that serve the state. These groups who provide services to people—they aren’t being paid and are in jeopardy of bankruptcy or having to lay people off. It is really important to balance this budget, in the larger sense. By having a balanced budget, we will be able to pay these groups who depend on money from the state.”