The Illinois budget impasse is contributing to layoffs at the Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department.
Administrator Robin Koehl says they laid off eight staff members on Thursday. That's on top of four others laid off back in March.
She says five layoffs are in the Marion office and the other three come from the Benton office. Five of the eight are in the WIC, Family Case Management programs. Koehl says unfortunately, there are no plans to rehire these workers even once a new state budget is passed.
"We were already losing money on these programs, and it just can't continue. So, in order to be able to right the ship, so to speak, and at least get to some place where, we're breaking even, there's no way we can do that, unfortunately. So, we're going to be operating with fewer staff for many, many more months to come."
Koehl says this will mean longer waits for services and higher fees for those visiting the Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department.
"Times have caught up with us there. So, we have had to do some gradual increases in fees, and I can tell you for our local health department, we will be implementing a new fee schedule. We will begin to increase those fees, we have no choice.
So, we have had to do some gradual increases in fees, and I can tell you for our local health department, we will be implementing a new fee schedule. We will begin to increase those fees, we have no choice. - Bi-County Health Department administrator Robin Koehl
Miriam Link-Mullison is president of the Illinois Public Health Association as well as administrator of the Jackson County Health Department. She says the problem goes well beyond a lack of a budget for the current fiscal year. She says public health departments have been facing budget shortfalls for up to seven years now.
Link-Mullison says not only does it affect the day-to-day operations, but also how public health departments respond in emergencies.
"When will the next flood happen? When will the next derecho happen? When will the next tornado hit? Those are all things that local public health departments step up and have a response."
Link-Mullison says the lack of a state budget is holding up critical state and federal grants for health departments. She says policy makers can't let the current financial crisis go on much longer without some dire circumstances.
"We will see the closing of public services. We don't have any other choices at some point. I would hope that they care enough about Illinois and the residents of Illinois to not let it get that far."
She says there are no plans right now to layoff any workers at the Jackson County Health Department. Although, she says Jackson County has laid off about 15-percent of its staff over the past four years.
