State budget causes major concerns for social service agencies

As Illinois' budget crisis continues to unfold, social service agencies grapple with the impact on local residents who need their services.

Mary McMahan is in her 15th year as executive director of Union County Counseling Services Inc. in Anna.

McMahan said this week that the state's budget situation is the worst she's seen during her tenure.

The state's fiscal year began July 1. However, a new budget was not in place when the fiscal year started. No budget means no money.

As of early this week, Illinois legislative leaders still had not resolved the continuing crisis.

"It's really bad. I've never seen the state in this  bad of shape," McMahan said.

For Union County Counseling Services, the situation is so grim that in a worst-case scenario, the agency could end up closing its doors.

So far, though, doors remain open. There have been no layoffs. The counseling service has about 25 full-time personnel who provide a wide range of  mental health care services.

Closing the doors and loss of those services would be a disastrous blow for the several hundred people served by the counseling service.

"It's going to be devastating for a lot of people," McMahan said. Backup services are not available for them. "I don't know where they'll go," she said.

McMahan said she has been in contact with legislators who represent Southern Illinois. The message she has been hearing is consistent: Southern Illinois is at the mercy of legislative leadership in the northern part of the state.

In the meantime, she strives to share a stark message with legislators: "People at home in their districts are suffering a lot."

The budget crisis already has "done an incredible amount of harm"  to the people served by the counseling service, McMahan said. The situation is "inflicting horrible harm on our clients."

McMahan said she would "pretty much take a wait and see" approach regarding the future of the counseling service, while hoping for the best.