By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Personal aid workers who get their pay from the state might soon see a stop to their paychecks.

Lynda Harper, who works with elderly and disabled in Bloomington-Normal, said it appears childcare, in-home health care, and nursing home aid programs might all see funding stopped if Illinois legislators don’t pass a budget in the next few months.

“If we can’t, you know, get a conciliation on a 2015 budget, and you know that in less than three months it’s going to be 2016, then the government’s going to close down,” said Harper. “And now they’re saying they have, like, options and one of the options is to cut the program, or release new revenue.”

Harper expressed frustration over the fact lawmakers continue to take long breaks from Springfield.

“I’m mad as hell. I’m serious, I’m mad as hell,” said Harper. “Numerous people are convinced that a shutdown of the government is Gov. (Bruce) Rauner’s incentive.”

At the end of September, Illinois will have gone three months without a state budget.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].