On March 7, 2007 Governor Blagojevich's budget was released. For years people with disabilities have advocated with their legislators to increase funding for Centers for Independent Living and the vital programs and services they provide. That advocacy work has finally paid off. The Governor's Fiscal Year '08 proposed budget included a $2 million Formula Funding increase for Centers for Independent Living.

INCIL Executive Director Ann Ford said that advocates have been working for the past eight years with members of the Illinois General Assembly to get Formula Funding implemented. This year she helped lead a new approach that involved working directly with the Governor's office. Years of work with Illinois lawmakers and the support of the Governor were both important components in the success of Formula Funding.

What is Formula Funding?

In the late 1990's INCIL and Centers for Independent Living partnered with economists from Southern Illinois University to create a formula that would determine the appropriate amount of funding needed to operate a CIL. Previously, the rationale for the base funding CIL’s received was unclear, and the formula was designed to incorporate factors such as service area population, economic indicators, statistics on the number of people with disabilities in a service area and the availability of other services for people with disabilities. $12 million would be needed to implement the Formula Funding initiative and bring all 23 of Illinois CIL's up to full funding.

$2 Million in Formula Funding is the First Step

"We are thrilled with what we consider to be the first step in the implementation of Formula Funding," said Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL) Executive Director Ann Ford.

Ford was a strong supporter of a three-year phase in of the full $12 million Formula Funding plan and this year advocated for the first $4 million installment. Although the $2 million in the Governor's proposed budget is only half that amount, and there is no promise of funding increases in the future, Ford and others are very positive.

"This is the first significant increase we've seen in years for Center funding," said Ford. She also added that the state's acceptance of the Formula Funding plan will help to make future advocacy efforts more successful.

CCDI's newly appointed Executive Director Brendt Ramsey said, “The small increases CIL's receive from COLA's are barely enough to cover the rising cost of things like healthcare coverage for the staff. Formula Funding would allow for improvements to current programs and the implementation of new ones.”

Ramsey went on to encourage all CCDI members to contact their local legislators and ask them to support Formula Funding.

Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois (SILC) Gerard Broeker said that throughout 2006 his agency held 15 public forums across the state designed to help determine and prioritize the need for services that help people with disabilities live more independently in the community. Broeker said many consumers emphasized the importance of Centers for Independent Living and the need or additional funding.

"SILC has had Formula Funding for Centers for Independent Living as a legislative policy priority for several years, and I'm pleased to see that the Governor has begun to implement Formula Funding as part of his proposed budget for FY 2008," said Broeker. "I will be working in conjunction with the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living to ensure that Form Funding remains in the budget throughout the legislative process."

Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living (IVCIL) Executive Director Donna Joerger says the Formula Funding increase will, "make a tremendous difference. With fewer staff, less revenue and increasing costs, it has been an impossible situation."

Joerger, who is currently the President of INCIL's Board of Directors, heads up a CIL operating in a rural five-county service area. Like many other centers, Joerger says Formula Funding will give IVCIL the opportunity to appropriately provide all of their core services throughout their entire service area.

The Governor's FY '08 budget is a proposal and there is always a chance funding will be cut before the budget is approved by the General Assembly. The Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois (CCDI) congratulates INCIL and all of Illinois' 23 Centers for Independent Living on this significant victory. CCDI encourages our members to let the Governor know that Formula Funding is a good thing for both CIL’s and people with disabilities

Below is a sample of a letter you might like to write to Governor Blagojevich thanking him for the inclusion of Formula Funding in his proposed budget, and encouraging him not to allow it be cut from the final budget. You can send the letter by regular mail, or e-mail the Governor via his on-line contact form at http://www.illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovernor.cfm .

Sample Letter in Support of Formula Funding

April 1, 2007

Governor Rob R. Blagojevich
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Governor Blagojevich,

First I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for including the Formula Funding of Centers for Independent Living (CIL) in your FY '08 budget proposal. Centers are an important part of the disability services delivery system in Illinois, and their vital programs help thousands of Illinoisans with disabilities live more independent lives in the community. The $2 million increase is an excellent first step in the full and adequate funding of Centers for Independent Living.

I would also like to encourage you to ensure that the $2 million you have allocated for CIL Formula Funding remains in the final budget. CIL programs are far too important to cut, and although in the scheme of a much larger budget it may seem like a small amount of money, it will make a tremendous difference to Centers and the people with disabilities they serve.

Once again, I thank you for your support of Centers for Independent Living and the Formula Funding initiative.

Sincerely,
Your Signature

Please help keep us informed of your advocacy work. Be sure to e-mail us at catalyst@ccdionline.org or give us a call (800) 433-8848 (V/TTY) and tell us what you did.