Lt. Governor Simon praises bipartisan budget plan

CARBONDALE – Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, the only statewide constitutional officer from Southern Illinois, urged the General Assembly to pass the bipartisan budget reallocation legislation today to keep several state facilities open.

This summer Governor Quinn was forced to begin the process of closing seven state facilities because sufficient funding to operate the facilities was not allocated in this fiscal year’s budget. The closures would have led to nearly 2,000 state employees being laid off.

The facilities scheduled to close were: Chester Mental Health Center, Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro, Jack Mabley Developmental Center in Dixon, Jacksonville Developmental Center, Logan Correctional Center, Singer Mental Health Center in Rockford, and Tinley Park Mental Health Center.

“I am thankful the General Assembly worked with the Governor to reach a bipartisan and fiscally responsible way to keep these facilities open,” Simon said. “This budget reallocation frees us to pursue smart policy that is good for the people involved. Our long-term goal is to make more community-based care available to the appropriate patients, in a way that is cost-effective for the state.”