October 7, 2010; Source: Chicago Tribune | Possibly the worst kept secret in nonprofitland is the fact that Illinois has an abominable track record in paying their nonprofit vendors on time. An Urban Institute study contrasts the national average of 41 percent of nonprofits which reported late payments to Illinois’ 72 percent, the highest level of late payments in the country. We hope that this high profile exposure will encourage Illinois lawmakers to address the issue. This article says that Illinois is currently $5 billion behind on its payments. One mental health treatment provider says he just got paid this week for the first time this fiscal year, which started in July. The administrative problems have resulted in staff layoffs and program closings.—Ruth McCambridge