The details of the Governor's FY 13 Budget Veto
is not being received well by members of the human service provider community.
Surprising the community workforce, the Governor vetoed half of the $20 million appropriated by the Legislature, taking away an annualized raise for direct support professionals earning less than $40,000 per year.
Instead the Governor has asked the Legislature to support a supplemental budget that turns the long needed raise into a one time bonus; and to direct half of the $20 million to a Chapter 257 Reserve Fund to be used for insufficient funds dedicated for rates.
The Collaborative supports rate reform but does not believe that funding rate reform should come from the funds reserved for the raising the pay of lowest paid workers in the human services system.
The members of
The Collaborative (Provider's Council, ABH, and ADDP), plan to ask the House and Senate to:
Priority 1:
override the Governor's veto and restore the first annualized raise direct support workers will have received in five years.
Priority 2:
establish a rate reserve fund based upon actual Chapter 257 estimates based upon projections developed with the Chapter 257 Commission as a responsibility of the Administration.
More information to and action steps to come later.
