Context, please
Monday, Jun 8, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Center Square…
An Illinois state senator says wages for direct support professionals who provide services for people with developmental disabilities and serious mental illnesses lag behind where they were when Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office.
Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, asked Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, if anything was added to the governor’s budget proposal for workers who provide disability services.
“The proposal for the 60 cents an hour increase in wages is included. It gets us on the path towards addressing and dealing with the Guidehouse recommendations,” Sims said during a hearing on May 31.
The Guidehouse issues developmental disability services rate studies for the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Before the General Assembly passed a record-high $55.9 billion budget on June 1 for fiscal year 2027, Rose said another $24 million would return DSP workers to 150% of minimum wage, where they were in 2019.
“Not one time in eight years will our most vulnerable population get back to where he started when he took over as governor. We’ve been below 150% every year of his two terms,” Rose said.
Beware whenever you see a story that doesn’t include enough numbers to provide real-world context.
* For example, the state’s minimum wage was $8.25 an hour in 2019. It is now $15 an hour. That’s an 82 percent increase. Kinda explains the state funding lag, although it doesn’t excuse it because those same legislators voted to increase the minimum wage and the same governor who signed that bill into law is responsible for the budget.
* This is from a group called “They Deserve More,” which is comprised of providers…
The final FY2027 budget includes:
A $.60/hour Direct Support Professional (DSP) wage increase,raising the state reimbursement for wages to $21.90/hour (146% of Illinois’ minimum wage)
So, pay will stand at 146 percent of a minimum wage that is now almost $7 an hour higher than it was seven years ago.
The 60 cents per hour raise will cost the state $24 million, according to the governor’s budget proposal.
* More from They Deserve More…
Additionally, the IDHS Division of Developmental Disabilities (IDHS-DDD) committed to proposing another $0.60/hour increase in next year’s FY2028 budget—which will finally achieve the Guidehouse Rate Study’s #1 recommendation: raising the state’s DSP wage reimbursement to 150% of the minimum wage statewide. This is the first time state leaders have made this kind of commitment in advance for DSP wages.
Not saying that bringing wages in compliance with the Guidehouse Rate Study isn’t important. It is very important. These folks work jobs that most people wouldn’t take. We desperately need them. If it were up to me, I’d go even higher.
But being four percentage points short of 150 percent is an important and unmentioned context.
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 1:58 pm:
Forget it Jake, it’s Center Square
- Think Again - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 2:26 pm:
Kudos to Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, for advocating for the pay raises for workers for people with developmental disabilities. My sister does the same in WI. It is very challenging both physically and mentally.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 2:35 pm:
==For example, the state’s minimum wage was $8.25 an hour in 2019. It is now $15 an hour. That’s a 55 percent increase.==
Rich, could you please explain the calculation on this? $8.25 is 55% of $15, but the increase (on top of the original $8.25) was actually $6.75, which is 82% of $8.25, the original wage.
- H-W - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 2:59 pm:
Re:Chaplin and0.60/hour
How about this? How about we start planning the next legislative session? I do not disagree with the principle of a minimum wage of $21.90 (or more in fact).
How about seeking a new wage level in the next session? I did this exact work when first graduated college. It requires intensive work, 40 hrs. a week. Those who serve the poorest need not be poor. They should be respected.
- Leslie K - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 3:19 pm:
==Beware whenever you see a story that doesn’t include enough numbers to provide real-world context.==
And beware whenever you hear words come out of Chapin Rose’s mouth, because some fact is likely being twisted.
DSP wages should definitely be higher (I think higher than the base goal). But progress is at least being made. They Deserve More and others recognize this and will keep working for even more progress.
- Casper the Ghost Bus - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 3:43 pm:
It’s not like Chapin’s ever going to vote for a budget.
If you put the full amount in the budget, he’d cry to the cameras and Center Square about the massive spending increase.
- Juice - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 3:52 pm:
Chapin was against raising the minimum wage.
So assume he thinks DSPs are better off making the $12/hour-ish people made back in 2019 compared to the $21.90 individuals are making today.
We all know the wage differential is far more important than the actual money that workers take home in their pocket.
- old man poodle owner - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 4:30 pm:
4% of 21.80 an hour is roughly 1600 dollars a year.
Thats not chump change to anyone but billionaires.
This is fact not context. Do better JB
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 5:42 pm:
What irritates me about this and the Republican “concern” about the lack of a Bears deal is the blatant hypocrisy of their messaging. We all know that if the Dems had increased this wage or struck a deal with the Bears, the Republicans would have been all over the media complaining about the lack of fiscal discipline.
Spare me, Sen Rose, spare me.
- Leslie K - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 5:56 pm:
I guess my primary comment hit moderation. Sorry about that.
I would just add that I wasn’t able to bring my severely disabled sister to Illinois because she had more resources where we were both born, in Missouri.
DSP wages in IL must continue to get attention.
- JS Mill - Monday, Jun 8, 26 @ 6:53 pm:
=Kudos to Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet,=
For what? Voting against workers all of the time? Or the increased minimum wage? Or budgets? The guy is not an honest dealer as Rich pointed out. I can attest to that from experience serving on a panel with him.