State Stix

The comptroller's December report notes that $9 out of every $10 spent in Illinois for services to senior citizens comes from the federal government. This has enabled the Department on Aging (DOA) to increase its budget from $5 million in fiscal 1973 (the year the department was founded) to $62 million in fiscal 1980. The number of elderly persons served by state programs has increased from 341,000 in fiscal 1975 to an estimated 873,441 in fiscal 1980. The big change occurred in fiscal 1979 when inflation forced older citizens on fixed incomes to look to state programs for support. Senior citizens comprise about 10 percent of the state's population. It is estimated that by 2025 nearly 16 percent of the population will be over 65, Nutrition services and meals for the elderly account for 28 percent of DOA's fiscal 1980 budget. The new in-home care program to keep people out of nursing homes comprises about 15 percent of the budget. . . . The comptroller's monthly report showed the genral funds average daily available balance in December to be $414 million; the general funds end-of-month balance was $438 million; the combined funds end-of-month balance was $620 million. In November and December the general funds balance dropped below the $500 million mark because of advance payments to local school districts. . . . The final statewide actual employment rate for October was 5.5 percent. The preliminary rate for November was also 5.5 percent. Final unemployment rates for October and preliminary rates for November in the state's major cities were: Bloomington-Normal, final October rate 2.8 percent, preliminary November rate 3.4 percent; Champaign-Urbana, 3.8 percent, 3.7 percent; Chicago, 5.2 percent, 5.1 percent; Davenport-Rock Island-Moline (Illinois sector), 4.1 percent, 4.4 percent; Decatur, 7.9 percent, 10.9 percent; Kankakee, 8.1 percent, 7.9 percent; 6.3 percent, 6.7 percent; Rockford, 5.3percent, 5.3 percent; Springfield, 6.3 percent, 5.8 percent; St. Louis (Illinois sector), 7.3 percent, 6.4 percent.

February 1980/Illinois Issues/29