The head of a coalition of social service agencies says she’s disappointed the state of Illinois is arguing in court it doesn’t have to fully pay for its contracts.
Last year during the Illinois state budget impasse - social service agencies weren’t paid.
But they continued to do contract work. A recent stopgap budget partially paid for that work.
But now - nearly 100 organizations that provide services for at-risk youth or finds housing for low income people, are suing the state for full payment.
Andrea Durbin leads one of those organizations.
DURBIN: We didn’t agree to be paid nothing or to be paid in part, we agreed to be paid in full for the work we did and we did the work.
In a new court filing - attorneys for the state argue the contracts were contingent on appropriations.
And the state is within its rights to only partially pay for the work done.