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Don’t say ‘no’ to people with disabilities and the people who support
them
Please help make the budget whole
The Governor asked in his FY
2007 Budget Address “Who do you say ‘no’ to?” He went on to say that he was
not afraid to say ‘no’. It is clear, the priorities getting a ‘yes’ from
the Governor in his proposed FY 2007 budget were education, healthcare, and
public safety. While these areas are important, the needs of people with
disabilities in the community are not any less important. The Governor
didn’t say ‘no’ to:
-
$58.1 M increase in the DHS budget for
personal services to fund collective bargaining wage increases,
annualization of the FY 2006 merit compensation increases and higher
retirement rates;
-
$6 M increase for gas, electric and energy
costs for state-operated facilities;
-
More money for equipment and vehicles for
state-operated facilities;
-
More money for property upkeep and
improvements for state-operated facilities;
-
$5.6 M to support the opening of Lincoln
Estates (formerly Lincoln Developmental Center);
-
$34.4 M for a rate increase for home child
care providers and a rate increase for center child care providers.
How can the community maintain current
services and supports when it does not receive increases each year to cover
the increased cost of providing services and supports to people with
disabilities? We need the leadership of the General Assembly to intervene
on behalf of people with disabilities and the people who support them.
Please help make the budget whole.
IARF’s FY 2007 budget
priorities are as follows:
·
5% enhancement for current
rates/reimbursements**
(EI has not received a CODB since
1998)
-
DDD*
$50.0 M
-
DMH*
$20.0 M
-
DRS*
$ 6.5 M
-
DASA*
$12.0 M
·
Community supports and
services
-
CILA (300
people)* $15.0 M
-
Home-Based Support Services
(400people)* $ 8.0 M
-
Family Assistance Program (300
people) $ 2.5 M
·
New Medicaid waiver for
home and community-based
services for children with
developmental disabilities*
* Most services are eligible for Medicaid
match.
** The 2005 State of the States suggests
Illinois must invest 8% every year for 10 years to achieve the median
reimbursement for states nationally.
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