The new Fiscal Year 2024 Budget has been passed by the Illinois State Legislature, headed now to the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The state budget is balanced in every sense. We shouldn't have to choose between being a responsible state and being a compassionate state. I and other legislators will continue to strive for both as we owe this to all who live in our state. Here are some notable highlights from the new budget:

Budget Highlights: 

• This budget builds on recent years of historic fiscal progress that earned Illinois eight credit rating upgrades and eliminated a bill backlog of roughly $16 billion. 
• Allocates $200 million in additional pension payments, bringing total pension stabilization investments to $700 million.  
• $85 million increase to support homelessness prevention, affordable housing, and other programs.
• $20 million investment in a new Illinois Grocery Initiative to expand grocery access to underserved rural towns and urban neighborhoods.
• $22.8 million in funding to begin implementing the new Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative.
• $18 million to increase support for reproductive health initiatives.
• $24 million for a rate increase for home workers who assist the elderly.
• Over $500 million in new state and federal funds to support the state’s healthcare system.
• Another step in phasing out the corporate franchise tax.
• $400 million to close major economic development deals and attract businesses to Illinois.
• $20 million to Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Program.

Developmental Disability Services: 

• $2.50/hr Direct Support Professional wage rate increase - to assist in recruiting and retaining frontline staff (effective January 1, 2024);
• $12.5 million in re-appropriated one-time funds for staff recruitment and retention 
• $10 million to establish rate comparability for Community Day Services in Cook and the collar counties; 
• $26 million to assist individuals in coming of the waiting list for services (PUNS); and 
• $27.6 million in rate adjustments for home-based services as required by law; 

Behavioral Health Services: 

• $30 million to increase Medicaid mental health rates for group therapy and crisis services; 
• $10 million in funding towards the Behavioral Health Workforce Center - to further develop professionals working in behavioral health services; 
• $10 million in increased mental health grants and for community transitions and rebalancing; and 
• $5 million for the Behavioral Health Student Loan Repayment Program 

Education: 

• $350 million for K-12 evidence-based funding formula 
• $100 million in additional MAP grant funding, ensuring everyone at or below the median income can go to community college for free 
• $250 million to fund Smart Start IL, which will help eliminate preschool deserts, stabilize the childcare workforce, expand the Early Intervention Program and Home Visiting programs, and more. 
• Within the $250 million budget includes:
• $40 million increase for IDHS (Illinois Department of Human Services) early intervention program, which supports young children with disabilities
• $70 million increase for the Child Care Assistance Program, which helps low-income families access child care and early childhood education
• $5 million increase for the home-visiting program that supports pregnant people and families with children between birth and 5 years old 
• $100 million increase for public universities and community colleges.
• $45 million for the first year of a three-year pilot program to help school districts that have a large number of teacher vacancies 
• $3.8 million increase for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship, which provides scholarships to students of color and bilingual students who want to become educators
• $100 million increase for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s Monetary Award Program, a grant program that provides funding to students from low-income families for college 
• $19.4 million increase for the base operating and equalization grants for public community colleges and City Colleges of Chicago



Immigration: 

• $550 million for Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults & Seniors ages 42 and up. 
• $25 million to Access to Justice (A2J): $12.5M to Westside Justice Center and $12.5M to Resurrection Project.
• $110 million to Illinois Welcoming Centers (WCs): $105M in General Revenue, ~$3.4M in State Coronavirus Appropriations, ~$1.6 M in State Coronavirus Appropriations to the United African Organization to continue funding and expanding the State’s 36 WCs which offer culturally and linguistically responsive comprehensive services for the integration of immigrants in Illinois.   
• $42.5 million from General Revenue to IDHS for grants and expenses associated with asylum seekers in Chicago and other municipalities in Cook County to offer critical services, including emergency shelter, healthcare, legal representation, translation services, etc. 
• $50.6 million to Refugee Resettlement. This funding will help the State continue supporting refugees from countries like Afghanistan and Ukraine.

In recognition of how much time the team spends at events in the evenings and weekends, we'll be instituting summer office hours starting Friday, June 9th. The main changes to the schedule are that we will be fully remote on Fridays. My team will be also remote in the mornings starting at 9 am on Mondays only and will be entering the office later on Mondays at 12 pm.

Hi all! My name is Delaney Kaufman and I'm thrilled to be joining the Rep. Cassidy team this summer. I hail from Las Vegas, Nevada, and am a rising junior at DePaul University, studying political science, with a concentration in international politics, and minors in journalism and applied diplomacy. I am extremely passionate about youth civic engagement, youth voter turnout, reproductive justice and women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, education, and the conjunction of mass media and politics. In my free time, I am the president of an a cappella group at DePaul, and spend a lot of my time singing. I'm a big reader (especially fiction), and am on a mission to go to every bookstore in Chicago. I was a barista for 4 years, and have a pretty serious love (and addiction) for coffee. I'm excited to be here!

Hi! My name is Alex Johnson, and I am so excited to be joining Representative Cassidy's team this summer. I am from just north in Evanston, Illinois, and I am a rising junior at Georgetown University, where I am majoring in Government with a focus on international security, and minoring in Religion, Ethics, and World Affairs. I am passionate about voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and humanitarianism in international relations. In my free-time, I am an avid swimmer (which correlates with my job managing the Northwestern University beach) and I love to talk movies, tv, and music, and I am always taking new recommendations (I'll offer my own--I just started The Diplomat on Netflix and it's great). I am thrilled to be working in politics so close to home!

Juneteenth Scholarship

In recognition of the upcoming Juneteenth festivities that will kick off later next week, the Chicago Juneteenth Planning Coalition has created a scholarship that runs through June 30th. Please review the flyer for details. To apply please scan QR code on flyer or click here.

In the District

District Council Public Meetings

Upcoming District Council Public Meetings

Get involved in the public safety process by showing up and being part of the conversation. Your District Council members want to hear from you!

24th District Council Public Meeting

Sunday, June 11, 3pm-4pm

Indo American Center, 6328 N California

You may deliver public comment by showing up at the meeting, or submit in advance by emailing Javon.Lewis-Brown@cityofchicago.org. To register for the Zoom, click here.

20th District Council Public Meeting

Monday, June 12, 6pm-7:30pm

Unity Lutheran Church, 1212 W Balmoral

You may deliver public comment by showing up at the meeting, or submit in advance by emailing Javon.Lewis-Brown@cityofchicago.org. 

Contact Javon Lewis Brown for Zoom link

A Just Harvest June Events

Andersonville Misommarfest

Midsommarfest returns Foster to Gregory on June 9 from 5-10PM and June 10 and 11 from 12-10PM. On Sunday, June 11 we are thrilled to be able to offer early shopping from 11-12PM for with immunocompromised folks. Please note that the Swedish Stage has been moved from Foster to Farragut this year to allow for a safer entrance into the festival at Foster. For a list of stages click here. Please email info@andersonville.org with any questions you may have for this year's event.

Monday Market

Edgewater's Monday Market is back! From 3-7pm every Monday until September 25th, the Market offers an expansive assortment of produce and goods, while emphasizing the vibrant connection between those in the Edgewater community.

Monday Market is an exciting opportunity to support local vendors and engage with other Edgewater residents in a welcoming and lively environment. Monday Market is located in The Broadway Armory at 5917 N Broadway. More information on Monday Market and a list of vendors can be found at https://www.edgewater.org/programs/farmers-market/.

Jarvis Square Artisan Market

June 10, 2023

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM CDT

www.jarvissquarechicago.org

The Jarvis Square Artisan Market welcomes everyone to enjoy and partake in summer loving.

The market brings local arts and craft vendors to the Jarvis Square Alfresco area where they can showcase and sell their creations. The market also has live music and food for patrons to enjoy. 

Vendors who are interested in participating should email charmersartisans@gmail.com. 

Loyola Park Shout Out Event

June 10 from 2-3:30 (Stage at Lunt and the Lakefront)  - Shout Out: A Tribute Concert to Queers in Sacred and Gospel Music. A concert with accompanying biographical information about some of the people who contributed to the vast catalog of church music. Artists featured include: Rev. James Cleveland, Sr. Rosetta Tharpe, Clara Ward, Billy Preston, and more. Lucy Smith will be accompanied by the Lucy Smith Quartet. Shout OUT shines the spotlight on these artists who wrote, arranged, and performed songs that have been heard and treasured for generations!

Youth and Teens

Chicago Math & Science Academy Summer Camp

When: Mon, June 12 - Fri, June 30 9am - 12pm

Where: Chicago Math & Science Academy, 7212 N. Clark St.

Participants will be involved in athletic and academic activities. Lunch is included in the $50 fee.

Sign up here.

Dating Safety and Sex-Ed Summer Camp

Culture of Safety, a woman/non-binary and queer-led small business in Rogers Park, is holding a summer camp on dating safety and sexual education for rising 7th-9th graders. The summer camp, which will be held from June 12th-16th from 1-4pm, will combine traditional Teen Empowerment Self-Defense with the Our Whole Lives sexual health curriculum. Culture of Safety seeks to instill young people with confidence and essential skills before they enter relationships in order to ensure that their future relationships are safe, healthy, and fulfilling. More information on the summer camp and Culture of Safety can be found at https://www.cultureofsafetychi.com/rogers-park-owl-next-session/.

Job Resources

Chicago Park District Summer Jobs

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626