Champaign Social Service Agency Says No Budget Will Mean Layoffs, Cuts

The head of a Champaign social service agency says that if there is still no state budget by next week, she will have no choice but to lay off staff and cut services.

But Courage Connection Executive Director Isak Griffiths says she is optimistic that lawmakers will find way this weekend to do what they haven’t done for two years … pass a state budget.

Griffiths says there are signs coming from Springfield that legislators might be ready to compromise. But she says people should keep calling lawmakers and pressuring them to act.

Courage Connection works with domestic violence victims and the homeless. Griffiths says any cuts in services could affect about 300 families.

The agency has said donors have stepped up in an unprecedented way in response to the lack of a budget. But Griffiths declined to say how much money has been raised before a fundraising campaign concludes this weekend.