JAMESTOWN – A proposal by Governor Andrew Cuomo to cut funding for services to people with developmental disabilities would lower the quality of services provided to individuals across New York State and potentially would led to layoffs for a local agency dedicated to helping others.
A recent media release from the Resource Center says a $2.5 million cut in Medicaid funding could result in the agency closing some of its residences, eliminate other services and lay off staff.
Gov. Cuomo recently amended his proposed 2013-14 budget to address a $500 million shortfall that has resulted from a reduced amount of federal Medicaid money for New York State. To absorb that deficit, Cuomo has proposed cutting $120 million from the budget for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities.
Because state Medicaid dollars are matched by the federal government, New York State’s $120 million cut would mean a total loss of $240 million in the coming fiscal year.
OPWDD Commissioner Courtney Burke has stated she intends to have the entire $120 million cut in funding to her agency come from the budgets of so-called voluntary service providers such as The Resource Center, rather than cut funding to programs and facilities operated by New York State employees.
This equates to a 6 percent across-the-board funding cut to voluntary agencies, meaning TRC’s Medicaid allocation would by reduced by about $2.5 million.
In response, the Resource Center has been collaborating with the individuals and families it supports, as well as with similar organizations across New York State, to fight the governor’s budget proposal and maintain quality services for people with disabilities.
Leave a Reply