SPRINGFIELD | Gov. Rod Blagojevich is cutting more than 450 jobs and closing nearly two dozen state parks and historic sites as part of the state's lingering budget impasse.
One union official described the plan as a "bloodbath" that will have wide-ranging effects on the services provided to state taxpayers.
The Department of Children and Family Services will lose 304 positions, while the Department of Human Services will be cut by 73 employees. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will lose 39 workers, and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will be cut by 34 employees.
Parks targeted for closure include Moraine View State Park near LeRoy, Hidden Springs State Forest in Shelby County, Wolf Creek State Park near Windsor and Weldon Springs State Park in DeWitt County.
Historic sites on the chopping block include the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington, Lincoln Log Cabin near Charleston, the Bryant Cottage in Bement, the Cahokia Courthouse in Cahokia and Bishop Hill.
The Hauberg Mansion at the Blackhawk State Historic Site in the Quad Cities will close, but the grounds of the site will remain open.
The cuts also hit a trio of sites in Randolph County -- Fort Kaskaskia, Fort de Chartres and the Pierre Menard Home.
The historic sites will close Oct. 1 while the parks will close Nov. 1.
Blagojevich has said the cuts are necessary after he slashed $1.4 billion from the state's spending plan in July. He said the Democrat-controlled legislature wanted to spend more money than the state will receive in the coming fiscal year.
State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said the governor is trying to force the General Assembly to return to Springfield to approve new revenue streams.
"I know he's trying to make people feel the pain," Luechtefeld said.
Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, said he was "flabbergasted" to learn of the cuts from a vendor at one of the parks affected by the closing.
"The Blagojevich administration did not have the class to let me know so I can begin working on a solution to this problem," Flider said.
Flider said the closure of Wolf Creek State Park in his district would have a major effect on businesses that rely on the 400,000 visitors who use the facility.
Jonathan Goldman, director of the Illinois Environmental Council, called the cuts "utterly appalling."
"The governor is off at the Democratic convention in Denver hugging people," Goldman said. "When he returns to Illinois there will be many families needing more than hugs."
DNR spokesman Chris McCloud said park entrances will be locked Nov. 1. People who venture into the parks after that date could be charged with trespassing.
Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 217-789-0865.
