A friend of mine called me yesterday with some scary news--she wasn't sure if she was going to still have her social services job this summer. The Illinois government is planning huge budget cuts that will affect nearly every social service job that receives state funds. Some centers fear that if the budget cuts take hold as planned, they will face closure.
My friend has a salary that is a pittance for the hours that she puts in and the value that she brings to her job. Working in a non-profit environment is always an exercise in breath-holding-- the budget dance gets played out every year. Fundraising is a constant thing. Doing the maximum with the minimum is a way of life. This isn't the first time that Illinois has done the budget cut dance, but there's a real fear that the music really is going to end.
Illinois is nearly two billion in the hole.
That's right. Two billion dollars short of the budgeted amount.
Protests are being organized today, letters, calls, faxes and emails are being sent out. Surely there has to be some pork in the budget that could be cut out? Why are we cutting out social services jobs that pay so little to begin with? Why can't we cut the fat from the top somewhere? After all, my hubby took a week off without pay to save some jobs where he works. Why can't we do the same with the top heavy people in Illinois?
Heck,, have them all take a month off spread out over the year-- I bet that alone could make a dent. Those making over $100,000 a year can well afford a pay cut. Those making $28,000 a year can't.
