Despite agreement in Springfield for a stop-gap budget, some state-funded workers in the Quad Cities have lost their jobs. On Friday, the Rock Island County Health Department laid off 13 employees.
Health Department Administrator, Nita Ludwig, says they all worked for the family case management program, and the state budget does not include money for it.
Even though Illinois did not have a budget during the past fiscal year, a court order forced the state to provide money for this program. And she hopes courts will rule again that the state must fund it in the coming year.
Following Friday's layoffs, Ludwig says the Rock Island County Health Department is now down to 39 employees - the lowest level in her 22 years with the department.
Two months ago, the department announced it would have to cut 17 positions on July lst because of the state budget impasse, but some resignations and retirements cut that number to 13.
