SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration is putting a pause on proposed funding cuts of nearly $90 million for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

According to state Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, implementation of the changes has been delayed until the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1.

Alex Gough, a press secretary for the governor’s office, confirmed that it has been paused until the end of the current fiscal year.

“Hitting the pause button was certainly the right thing to do,” Rose said. “And now we can take the time to work with the administration, the developmental disability community and members on both sides of the aisle to get to a permanent resolution on this.”

He added that he will work to ensure the cuts are permanently rescinded rather than just temporarily delayed.

The Illinois Senate Republican Caucus previously sent a letter of protest to Pritzker about the change.

Rose wrote in this letter that the state planned to cut 2.5 million Direct Support Professional (DSP) service hours, which would affect group homes where “approximately 10,000 adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) reside.”

“This reduction is an approximately $87.7 million cut to I/DD individuals and accounts for approximately 9% of total DSP funded hours and would result in a reduction of service hours for 90% of all group home residents,” Rose wrote.

At the time, he said that the cuts would go into effect on April 1.

IDHS Director of Communications Rachel Otwell said in a previous statement that the Pritzker administration has invested additional funds into community living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities rather than cutting funds.

She added that IDHS intends to “standardize how rates are calculated for all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving the same services and supports so that there is equity across the system.”