In response to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's line-item veto of $1.4 billion last week to balance the state budget, spokespeople for Franklin-Williamson Human Services at a Monday press conference voiced concern for $152 million in community-based social service funding before the House reconvenes Tuesday to try to restore some of the cuts.

FWHS CEO John Markley said Blagojevich's proposed cuts add to a system already hurt by the economy and slight cost-of-living increases over the past decade while expenses have skyrocketed.

"We've been losing and already the system is burdened," Markley said. "Then they cut 43 percent of what we're doing. It's impossible to do. Many agencies may have to close their doors."

The state-funded substance abuse prevention and treatment program will lose $55 million plus a federal matching grant, leaving prevention services with a cut of 85 percent and treatment losing half of its funds.

That would mean a possible layoff of 40 staff and a waiting list of for treatment upwards of 300 people. Statewide, there are more than 7,500 people on waiting lists for substance abuse treatment.

"One dollar for treatment saves $7," FWHS Director of Substance Abuse Services Wendy Bailie said. "How does it make sense to do this? Communities will be safer and healthier if the cuts are restored."

Other cuts will eliminate $71 million from the Illinois Department of Human Services' alcoholism and substance abuse (DASA) and mental health divisions (DMH). That includes $9 million for DASA's overall programming (domestic violence, jail diversion and re-entry, female criminal justice, etc.), $4.6 million for psychotropic medications and $3.7 million for children and adolescent programs and the children's mental health partnership, and other cuts.

A substance abuse recovery house in Enfield also could be in jeopardy.

"This is a public health crisis," said Angie Hampton, CEO of Harrisburg's Eyptian Public and Mental Health. "Proposed cuts to behavioral health greatly affect public health. To cut back on treatment is detrimental. The people who need services can't get them. That taxes our other systems."

State Rep. John Bradley will be in Springfield Tuesday as the House again tackles the budget.

"This doesn't add to trust in the state," he said. "It's more than just personal difference. There are policy differences. The same administration proposed the gross receipts tax and a lot of bad ideas. This is up there with them."

A list of proposed budget cuts, as compiled by FWHS staff, includes:

n $71 million in Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and Department of Mental Health funds, broken down as follows:
• $43.3 — half of the state's funding for treatment services.
• $9 million DASA programs like jail diversion, domestic violence and work release
• $4.6 million reduction to grant programs and transportation
• $4.3 million for psychotropic medication and supportive housing
• $3.7 Children's Mental Health Partnership, children and adolescent programs
• $3 million in a proposal to increase DASA addiction services for 2009
• $2.7 million for the DASA welfare reform pilot project
• $1 million for transitional housing and employment services for homeless youth

n $55 million substance abuse prevention and treatment plus $55 in federal matching grants, thereby cutting 85 percent of the prevention services and half of the treatment services.