Photo by Spc. Chasity Johnson, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office
By Jeff Small
Centralia, IL (KSDK) - In an address to Illinois state lawmakers, Governor Pat Quinn said he wants to close two large prisons and a dozen other state facilities, slash Medicaid by more than $2.5 billion, and cut spending at most state agencies. The cuts could put nearly 600 workers in Centralia out of a job.
In a community of only 14,000 people, just the possibility of deep cuts like these has everyone talking.
In fact, it's the top story in Wednesday's Centralia Sentinel newspaper.
The Warren G. Murray Development Center has around 550 workers and 275 residents with developmental disabilities.
The mayor of Centralia says the potential cuts are a serious concern to his city but also to the region. He also says city leaders are currently taking steps to try and work with the governor's office to stop the closure.
"It's been a lot of phone calls and we have been talking to our state representatives and our senators and I am trying to get a meeting with the chief of staff for the governor looking at different programs we can do. We feel there are better ways to do that and make sure the facility stays open," said Mayor Tom Ashby.
The governor's proposal still has to go before a commission and the public.
KSDK