State Representative John Cavaletto says he has one message to the Governor about his proposed closure of the Murray Developmental Center: 'Cuts can be made without harming the helpless'.
Cavaletto is calling on area residents to mount a letter writing campaign to the Governor's office stressing the importance of both Murray Center and the Centralia Animal Disease Laboratory adjacent to Kaskaskia College that is also slated for closure. "I would recommend that they flood the Governor's office with information about Murray Center and its residents," said Cavaletto. "I would suggest they start doing that right now and continueto doit."
Cavaletto says the region needs to send a strong message to the Governor that he can't attempt to balance the state's budget solely on the backs of the developmentally disabled and the people who care for them. He says there is a little time to mobilize. Cavaletto notes the Governor's recommendations for facility closures have to be presented to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability and public hearings will be held.
Cavaletto says the process could take between 50 and 90 days. He stressed the importance of making sure the COGFA board knows exactly how important these facilities are to Centralia and the surrounding area. Murray Center currently has almost 550 employees and 275 residents.
The Department of Agriculture facility near Kaskaskia College that specializes in studying animal diseases has 15 employees. - http://goo.gl/WYZI3
