State Budget Fight Affects Paydays For Public Lawyers
From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
Payments to state’s attorneys and public defenders will continue to be delayed without a budget, the state’s Revenue Department said Tuesday.
A department spokesman said July payments for county prosecutors and public defenders still can’t go forward while state lawmakers remain at loggerheads over a spending plan.
The state is responsible for a significant chunk of state’s attorneys’ and defenders’ salaries in a typical budget year.
The state portion makes up a greater share in primarily rural counties.
But with no plan implemented, those payments are either being made by local governments or delayed indefinitely.
“Obviously we can’t pay them without an appropriation,” said department spokesman Terry Horstman.
The Revenue Department notified county treasurers of the pay situation in a letter on July 30.
“As you probably know, a budget for the state of Illinois is currently pending for the 2016 fiscal year. As a result, payments have been suspended for the state’s attorneys, public defenders and supervisor of assessments salaries going forward until an appropriation for the 2016 fiscal year is established for these salary reimbursements,” the letter states.
A spokeswoman for Cook County State’s Attorney Anita M. Alvarez could not be reached.
Keith C. Grant, president of the Illinois Public Defender Association, also could not be reached.
The state has gone more than two months without a spending plan due to an impasse between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative Democrats led by House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
Payments to state’s attorneys and public defenders will continue to be delayed without a budget, the state’s Revenue Department said Tuesday.
A department spokesman said July payments for county prosecutors and public defenders still can’t go forward while state lawmakers remain at loggerheads over a spending plan.
The state is responsible for a significant chunk of state’s attorneys’ and defenders’ salaries in a typical budget year.
The state portion makes up a greater share in primarily rural counties.
But with no plan implemented, those payments are either being made by local governments or delayed indefinitely.
“Obviously we can’t pay them without an appropriation,” said department spokesman Terry Horstman.
The Revenue Department notified county treasurers of the pay situation in a letter on July 30.
“As you probably know, a budget for the state of Illinois is currently pending for the 2016 fiscal year. As a result, payments have been suspended for the state’s attorneys, public defenders and supervisor of assessments salaries going forward until an appropriation for the 2016 fiscal year is established for these salary reimbursements,” the letter states.
A spokeswoman for Cook County State’s Attorney Anita M. Alvarez could not be reached.
Keith C. Grant, president of the Illinois Public Defender Association, also could not be reached.
The state has gone more than two months without a spending plan due to an impasse between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative Democrats led by House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.
Read more in our daily News Update...