By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Many groups in McLean County and across the state are worried about their future if the state legislature doesn’t pass a budget by next week.

Gail Kear is executive director for the LIFE Center for Independent Living. She was one of several organization leaders that discussed the lack of a state budget with the community Thursday outside the McLean County Museum of History.

“LIFE Center and thousands of other human service agencies across the state are being forced to make dire decisions about laying off and furloughing staff and reducing the days we can be open to serve people,” Kear said.

Liz German, vice president of operations at YWCA McLean County, said the YWCA relies on the state to fund many of its programs, including child care for working parents.

“In some cases, parents may have to face the tough decision to leave their children without proper supervision in order to go to work,” German said. “Parents common response to this discussion is that they simply won’t know what to do if funding goes away.

No budget also means less money for victims of sexual assault. Hilary Pacha runs the Stepping Stones Sexual Assault Services through the YWCA.

“If Stepping Stones were not here, many victims may not have anyone to turn to or help them navigate a confusing system,” Pacha said. “We are their advocates.”

Lawmakers have until July 1 to pass a budget.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].