Budget news from Sacramento

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VHIconnect recently posted a couple of budget and funding updates of interest to the developmental disability community -- and it's not all bad news.

In one post, they've reported that California’s Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has released its plan, as requested by the Governor’s December budget proposal, to cut $200 million ($100 million from General Fund) in expenditures in 2012/2013 ($100 million as required by the activation of “trigger cuts”, due to a revenue shortfall). (from DDS Releases Plan for $100 Mil in Savings)

The good news here is that the $100 million cost reduction will be achieved, according to the DDS plan, without having to make additional cuts to programs or services but through higher than expected savings from various existing measures already in place, and through an increase in federal matching funds.

DDS held a number of stakeholder workgroup meetings to provide input on where and how the proposed cuts/savings could be implemented. Senate Bill 73 directed the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to consider a variety of strategies including savings attributable to caseload and expenditure adjustments, unexpended savings in contract budgets, and other administrative savings to meet this target.

In a related news item, VHIconnect posted that the Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) has issued a report titled “An Overview of DDS Programs and Recent Funding and Caseload Trends” which offers a summary of General Fund allocations to DDS developmental center and community based services. The report states that DDS spending has remained relatively flat over the past three years, although the report does not include costs such as In Home Supported Services (IHSS). The report credits the reduction in expenditures to “adoption of various savings measures that have offset growth in costs due to caseload and utilization of services”. (from DDS Updates Legislature on 2010 CA Auditor Findings)

See the VHI website for more details -- or read the full twelve-page report, which can be found on the LAO website at www.lao.ca.gov.

Despite these indications that DDS is holding the line on cutbacks, the vulnerability of funding for and continuation of services to the developmentally disabled community does continue to be a concern as the budget crunch continues in California.

Earlier this year, The Arc of California posted a report issued by the KTLP (Keep the Lanterman Promise) group on the results of a survey to providers that shows funding of many programs and services for community-based folks is at risk. (see In Danger of Collapse) As developmental centers continue to be downsized and closed and the disabled are dispersed to community-based care systems, it is important to ensure that support is maintained.