CENTRALIA — Illinois officials waited more than five months to alert dozens of domestic violence programs that their funding had been eliminated, an omission that forced layoffs and other cuts including to one local service.

Because officials were unaware that about $9 million in state funding was left out of the stopgap plan that expired in December, PAVE in Centralia will shut their doors today, with temporary layoff notices sent to all staff.

PAVE’s hotline service will remain operational for people needing assistance, but those in need of food, medication, and other services have been turned away.

Domestic violence programs learned of the shortfall from a December 16 letter from Human Services Secretary James Dimas.

No one will say why the money was excluded. State officials won’t say why Dimas didn’t notify anyone sooner.

This isn’t the first time the budget standoff has resulted in the closure of PAVE and the halt of its services. In 2015 the lack of a state budget led the domestic violence service to shutter its doors for a few months until a stopgap budget was passed through the General Assembly and was approved by Gov. Bruce Rauner.