MARION - Area social service directors gathered Monday at the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion, where they voiced outrage over proposed budget reductions announced last week by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to community-based social service agencies.

Wendy Bailie, director of substance abuse services for Franklin-Williamson Human Services, said $55 million cut from the state-funded substance abuse prevention and treatment system, including $43 million in addiction services, would "devastate" programs locally.

"These cuts won't save the state money in the long run and we'll also miss out on another $55 million in matching funds from the federal government," Bailie said. "How does it make any sense to do this? We'd have to put 300 people on a waiting list for services and lay off at least 40 staff."

Mickey Finch, CEO with the Fellowship House, a nonprofit private corporation that provides prevention, intervention and treatment services in Anna, said such cuts would be a "tragic blow" to one of the best systems in the country.

"Agencies like ours provide excellent services to the sickest and neediest in our communities," Finch said. "Alcohol and drug problems hurt every aspect of life and I know that these problems affect all of us in some way on a personal level in our families and friends."

Angie Hampton, CEO with Egyptian Public and Mental Health in Saline County, said the No. 1 health concern is substance abuse. Substantial funding cuts make that concern more acute.

"We need increases, not cuts," she said.

Karen Freitag, CEO with Southern Illinois Regional Social Services in Carbondale, said she hopes state legislators will come to the rescue and restore funding.

"We're talking about more children needing foster care and more adults being incarcerated if these cuts remain in place," she said. "Even if we can keep our doors open, we'll be turning away hundreds in need of our services - services which can lead to young adults becoming productive citizens instead of a burden on society."

State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said the governor's cuts certainly don't "add to the level of trust" citizens have in his leadership.

"These are the faces of the cuts," he said motioning to the group of social service employees who had spoken before him. "When you take money out of programs like theirs, lives are affected. The increase passed by the General Assembly was only for $3 million. A $55 million reduction is cutting into the meat of these programs. There's no reason for it. It's uncalled for and unnecessary."

Blagojevich said last week he cut $1.4 billion from the budget because legislators failed to approve enough revenue to cover expenses.

john.homan@thesouthern.com

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