Despite that fact that California has reaped billions of dollars in unexpected revenue over the last few months, Governor Brown did not add in an extra penny into the state’s system to help some of our most vulnerable people—children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and severe epilepsy, who receive services through our state’s Regional Center system
In his news conference today unveiling the new, revised May figures, Gov. Brown called for $6 billion more for K-12 schools and community colleges over his January budget, with a third of that targeted for students who are low-income, learning English or in foster care. While it’s true that state law dictates that much of this extra dollars in taxes must go to public schools (K-12) and community colleges, our state’s Regional Center system is in desperate need of more funding, and a relatively small investment can be leveraged into even more funds with federal matching grants.
As reported in the Daily News, the Lanterman Coalition — an umbrella organization of agencies that serve individuals with developmental disabilities — is advocating for a one-time, 10 percent increase in state support for those services. This funding would represent a crucial turning point, at last, from years of cuts and a failure to keep up with the costs of living which have resulted in low wages for direct-service workers, high employee turnover, as well as high caseloads for the service coordinators. And this in the state that led the nation in adopting the Lanterman Act in 1969 which created community-based alternatives to the former state institutions that housed people with developmental disabilities.
As the May 7th opinion piece in the Daily News stated, “The state has stiffed this system in terms of funding year after year, going all the way back to the 1987-88 fiscal year, when the state reimbursement rate for services and support was not adjusted, but the consumer price index rose 4.2 percent. The same thing — or worse — happened 22 of the 28 years since for most reimbursement categories.”
That 10 percent increase would cost $357 million from California but would provide $500 million in improved services. The difference — $143 million — would come from federal matching grants. Without this extra money, we will be leaving behind crucial federal funds that can increase the reimbursements for supported living, supported employment, and for work activity programs, along with lower caseloads.
So now it’s up to the State Senate and State Assembly to do the right thing, and add in that $357 million for the Regional Center System.
Learn more here and help restore vital services to our fellow Californians.
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