PONTIAC - Livingston County social service groups want help from the state Senate as they look for ways to stave layoffs and program losses - including perhaps Special Olympics - caused by budget cuts by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

On Friday morning, representatives from the Institute for Human Resources, Futures Unlimited, Mosaic and other groups talked about how the cuts would affect residents and employees.

"We think this is outrageous," said Joe Ronaldson, Institute for Human Resources executive director. "The state seems to be taking very good care of itself, but not taking care of the community."

Mosaic Executive Director Rod Patterson said his department had planned raises in July for its staff of around 60, but the raises were junked because more than 90 percent of the agency's budget is for salaries.

Patterson said the decision could cause people to quit and hamper recruitment.

"Our only option is to cut back on those while providing safe environments to the people we help," he said.

Mosaic provides residential support for people with developmental disabilities. Seven homes each support six to eight people.

Futures Unlimited provides support for people with physical, developmental and mental disabilities. Executive Director Brian Blossom said the cuts will affect $60,000 in its budget, and the state still owes $487,000 in payments.

Blossom said the group will have to suspend its involvement in Special Olympics because it is unfunded and the group needs to have money for basic services.

Blossom said the decision would affect about 100 people.

Pontiac Elementary District 429 also provides services for children involved in Special Olympics.

"I dread the day that we have to announce to the folks we support that the Special Olympics is not going to be there any more," Patterson said. "That is the highlight for the year to many of them." Carol Flessner, executive director of the Livingston County Mental Health Board said the cuts also could affect a Department of Children and Family Services satellite office in Pontiac.

Ronaldson's agency provides mental health, drug and alcohol counseling.