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Quinn Announces Layoffs and Facility Closures to Cut Costs

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Sep 9, 2011 6:00PM

Gov. Pat Quinn says the state will lay off more than 1,900 state workers and close seven state facilities to help close the $313 million budget shortfall. All of the facilities are related to mental health and correctional facilities, and all but two are in Republican-controlled districts. Only one is near Chicago: the Tinley Park Mental Health Center.

Quinn also won a battle in the courts against the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31. The AFSCME says Quinn's move in July to stop a 2 percent raise for workers is a "direct violation of a negotiated agreements" they made last year. The AFSCME had previously agreed to a cut in the raise from 4 percent to 2 percent in exchange for a promise of no layoffs or facility closures until June 2012.

Sun-Times columnist Rich Miller called Gov. Quinn a "drama queen" for blaming the layoffs on the General Assembly. Quinn said the budget shortfall is a result of the legislators' decisions during the budget process. Quinn's move would cut about $55 million, which Miller says is less than 0.2 percent of the state budget.

The other facilities slated to close are the Chester Mental Health Center, the Jacksonville Developmental Center, the Singer Mental Health Center in Rockford, the Mabley Developmental Center in Dixon, the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln and Murphysboro Youth Correctional Center in Menard.