In a familiar move, the Chicago Department of Public Health is poised to shutter at least four city-run mental health centers within 45 days, as the city grapples with an unclear budget picture.
CDPH spokesman Tim Hadac confirmed that department commissioner Dr. Terry Mason met with the city’s Board of Health yesterday to outline plans to close the centers, which could become victims of the state’s budget crisis.
Earlier this month, Mason said Gov. Pat Quinn’s “doomsday” budget could prompt the city to cut mental health services, as well as many other services.
Lawmakers in Springfield are stilling hashing out a budget, which does not appear to include provisions for the income tax hike Quinn desires. The state faces a $9.2 billion deficit, and Quinn has said funding for local agencies like CDPH would have to be cut in the absence of a tax hike.
The four South Side centers nearly closed their doors in April after city officials said cuts in state money would make it impossible to keep them open.
A Daily News report subsequently revealed the city had, against state advice, installed a billing system that didn't work. The city was unable to bill the state for mental health services for several months, which created a budget shortfall and led to the plan to close the clinics.
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