SPRINGFIELD - Faced with an uncertain state budget future at the end of May, local agencies that care for the elderly and disabled cut services and laid off workers.

Now, state lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn have approved a budget that could send the social service providers more money.

"Hopefully, they're going to get a lot more," said state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg.

The new budget comes up with about 90 percent of what Quinn had asked for, but in the coming months, the governor can cut more throughout state government as he sees fit.

That's still a cut, said Dreux Lewandowski, Macon Resources Inc. executive director, who already has laid off 14 workers and cut support services to 136 people. Lewandowski said he had to cut his work program for the developmentally disabled and group care for adults and children.

More money in the state budget might help resurrect some of those services, but it's unclear just how much yet. The state still has to send the money, and Quinn said Thursday that he wants bigger contracts for human services agencies sent out "pronto."

Lewandowski said he feels bad for the 14 workers he had to cut because of reduced state funding. But, he said, the workers might be able to live for a time on unemployment. The people they served might not get the same support.

"There's no safety net," he said.

Quinn wanted an increase in the state income tax rate to avoid cuts, but Republicans and some Democrats in the Illinois House resisted. The newly approved state budget has drawn fire for depending on borrowed money.

"Tens of thousands of jobs and vital services have already been lost, and the lives of tens of thousands of Illinois seniors, people with disabilities and children are still in serious jeopardy because our elected officials failed to find a long-term solution," said Keith Kelleher, president of the Illinois Service Employees International Union.

Quinn said people depending on state money would still feel pain, even though a shutdown of state government was averted. The state had gone for two weeks without a spending plan in place before one was approved Wednesday evening.

"We cannot carry on in Illinois until we get more revenue," Quinn said.

The governor said he hoped the results from cuts in coming months will help convince lawmakers to support his tax increase plan.

"If they're looking for cuts, they're gonna see them," Quinn said.

mike.riopell@lee.net|789-0865