FY 13 Budget: First Look

Relevant Line Items •  Full budget here  •  Mass Budget/Policy Center  • The Arc of Mass analysis

Governor Deval Patrick today released his FY13 budget, which unfortunately under-funds some critical supports for families.

Family Support Services (DDS line item 5920-3000) has been reduced by $5.5 million. The impact of this cut is further exacerbated by the fact this program has already been cut by $10 million in 2010. There are 20,000 families currently served through this program. The cut proposed by the Governor today will impact 2,000 Massachusetts families.

Also of great concern is a $3 million shortfall for transportation (previously DDS line item 5911-2000). This line item has been bundled into the DDS Community Day & Employment Services line.

Aside from these larger cuts, there is some good news for the disability community. The governor's proposed budget:

• Maintains level funding for long term supports and services in MassHealth including day habilitation, adult family/foster care, adult day health and personal care attendant programs.

• Annualizes funding for day, employment & residential programs that support students who turned 22 last year.

• Fully funds the Rolland settlement that continues to bring people into community-based programs.

• Includes some funds for Chapter 257 implementation in community-based day and employment rates. We are still reviewing this breakdown to see if more funds will be necessary to adequate and fairly set those rates.

• Level-funded the MRC brain injury residential supports program (SHIP).

We are very disappointed at the failure of the Administration to fund a salary increase for human service workers. The human services sector, which never enjoyed plentiful revenues in good times, has suffered disproportionately in state funding since budget writers began cutting to the bone many years ago. This, despite many studies that show the human services industry is a major employer with nearly 200,000 employees who account for more than $100 million in tax revenue in the Commonwealth.

Annual Meeting & Legislative Luncheon

Photos from the event
See a sample of the calendar

Thank you to all the legislators, staffers, policymakers and ADDP members who attended the very successful Legislative Lunch on January 17. Representatives & Senators from every corner of the state gathered to discuss issues of funding, policy and the future. With the possibility of potential budget cuts looming as the release of Gov. Patrick's budget approaches, ADDP members took comfort in seeing and hearing from legislators that they understand the real costs of supporting individuals in the community.

Rep. Ronald Mariano (D-Quincy) was honored by ADDP for his continued support of legislation that improves the lives of the individuals supported by ADDP members. Rep. Kay Khan (D-Newton) joined ADDP CEO Gary Blumenthal and board member Bill Sprague from Bay Cove Human Services at the podium to present Rep. Mariano with the award.