Unintended Budget Cuts Must Be Fixed!
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It’s time for the Governor and members of the General Assembly to fix the “unintended” reductions of the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) for people with disabilities. Both legislators and the Governor’s administration seem to agree that an additional cut of $4.3 million to the community system was unintended. Unintended or not, this cut, on top of the $20 million intended reduction by the General Assembly, is causing serious harm to people with disabilities and their families.
It is hard do imagine that while the state is attempting to negotiate a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice on ADA issues, we would allow further reductions to the fragile infrastructure of the community system. Services that allow people to live at home or in community residential settings are affected by this cut the most. Letting this “accidental” cut stand will hurt people.
The Arc, in a letter to the Governor, has asked that she take the lead on eliminating this cut. We are sending a similar letter to the House and Senate leadership asking them to join with the Governor to fix this unfortunate mistake. Hopefully, all parties will work together to do so.
Members can help by letting the Governor and General Assembly know that this cut must be restored. Let them know that our fragile community system cannot stand more reductions and that people with disabilities deserve better!
Contact:
- Governor Bev Perdue - governor.office@nc.gov (919) 733-5811
- Speaker Thom Tillis - Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net (919) 733-3451
- President Pro Tem Phil Berger - Phil.Berger@ncleg.net (919) 733-5708
