SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Bruce Rauner's effort to patch a big hole in this year's budget includes cutting aid for low-income college students and programs for sexual assault and homeless youth.
Documents obtained Thursday by the Lee Enterprises Springfield bureau show the Republican governor's attempts to close a $1.6 billion budget gap will mean reductions to the state's Monetary Award Program, which helps students offset the cost of college tuition.
Nursing homes face a 16.75 percent reduction in Medicaid reimbursement rates saving an estimated $53 million, while programs that pay for sexual assault treatment, domestic violence initiatives, homeless youth programs and teen parents also will see $1.1 million in cuts, the documents note.
The latest list of cuts came as Rauner aides met behind closed doors with budget officials from the legislative branch as part of a pow-wow to outline the latest developments in the governor's attempt to manage the state's budget mess.
State Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, attended the session. Steans, who is a lead budget negotiator for Democrats in the Senate, said the specific programs identified for reductions were not a surprise.
"It is totally aligned with what we expected when we worked to close the $1.6 billion gap," said Steans.
Members of the House and Senate last month approved a plan to cut most state agencies by 2.25 percent and allow Rauner to dip into a series of special state funds to fill the hole that occurred when the state's temporary income tax expired in January.
But, some social service programs had already run out of money, leaving Rauner aides the task of picking through individual programs to find the 2.25 percent savings as the clock ticks down on the state's fiscal year, which ends July 1.
Among those announced Thursday was the University of Illinois Sickle Cell Center in Chicago.
In addition, as part of the deal with lawmakers, hospitals were spared, putting the Medicaid savings largely on the back of the state's nursing homes.
The current year budget remains a sticking point for the governor and Democrats who control the General Assembly.
On Good Friday, Rauner riled Democrats when he made another $26 million in cuts to programs covering autism therapy, indigent burials, epilepsy treatment and addiction prevention.
Democrats in the Senate Wednesday rammed through a plan to jumpstart funding for those programs, but House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, believes Rauner has the ability to fund those programs without legislative help.
Rauner budget chief Tim Nuding has warned lawmakers that the governor might not be done when it comes to cutting programs as a way to close the budget gap.
kurt.erickson@lee.net
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