As the state budget impasse continues, State Rep. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, is meeting with local governments and community organizations to monitor how local residents and communities are being impacted. Rep. Fine recently met with Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz.
“Many local communities depend on state funding to provide services and invest in their community,” said Rep. Fine. “The longer this budget impasse continues, the more damaging the effects will be on the middle-class families we serve.”
During the meeting, Mayor Tisdahl and Rep. Fine discussed how the City of Evanston risks losing $625,000 each month from the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF), a revenue sharing agreement between Illinois and municipalities across the state. This money is used to provide services, including sanitation and snow removal. Additionally, LGDF and other state grants, which the City is also at risk of losing, help pay for infrastructure projects, including current efforts to improve Evanston’s water mains. Without funding, public transportation may be forced to cut routes and services, which will disproportionately affect students, seniors enrolled in reduced fare programs and paratransit riders.
The City is also concerned about the welfare of mental health facilities, supportive housing and nursing homes located in Evanston that are facing closure. If the facilities in the City were to close, 2,500 residents would be forced out of their homes and over 1,000 individuals would lose their jobs.
“I will continue to work with my colleagues to find a way to continue providing services to seniors, people with developmental disabilities and other vulnerable individuals and taxpayers, while a final budget is still being discussed,” Rep. Fine added.