Legislators Finally Approve Critical Funding Bill For Schools and Medical Providers

November 2, 2007

Springfield, IL.….According to State Senator John O. Jones (R-Mt. Vernon) and State Representative David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) school districts across Illinois will now be able to finalize their yearly budgets because of today’s (Friday) passage of the FY 2008 budget implementation legislation (BIMP).

“Our school districts have faced an uncertain financial future since August because of the continuing political games in Springfield,” Jones said. “I’m pleased that – at least on this issue – we were finally able to move forward, although it’s unfortunate that it took this long and schools have been left hanging in the balance.”

“The tension in Springfield this week was as thick as we have seen all year. It’s shameful that the Democratic Leadership chose to use our school children as pawns by blocking a vote on this mandatory budget implementation bill.  School districts will now be able to finalize their budgets and finally focus on educating our students,” Reis said.

Senate Bill 735, the implementation bill, contained several key provisions for school funding. General State Aid will be increased by an estimated $400 per student to a total of $5,734. Critical funding for special education grants will increase by an estimated $1,000 to a total of $9,000.

Southern Illinois healthcare providers will also be assisted by the passage of SB 735.  Language was included to increase the reimbursement rates for nursing homes across Illinois along with a special provision affecting the re-opening of the Carmi Hospital.

“I was pleased this legislation will also benefit our nursing facilities. Nursing facilities have been especially hard hit in recent years because the state has failed in its duty to keep pace with the rising cost of providing care to our most vulnerable citizens. We also need to thank former White County resident and Congressmen Glenn Poshard for his assistance on this legislation,” Jones concluded.

“We worked very hard to make sure the language for Carmi Hospital remained in the bill,” said Reis. “Now, if the community chooses to re-open the facility as a hospital, they will be able to do so under the old regulations that were required when the facility closed. From a financial standpoint it really would have made it hard to reopen under the new requirements costing the community over four times more in renovation costs.”

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