State budget negotiations are in full-swing at the Capitol – and TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!
What You Can Do: Tell Your Story Now
- Call Governor Edward G. Rendell at 717-787-2500.
- Call your local legislators. If you do not know who your local legislator is, or how to contact him/her, visit the following link: www.capwiz.com/lwv/officials/state/?lvl=C&state=pa.
Helpful Hints for Telling Your Story
- RELATE YOUR INDIVIDUAL AGENCY'S POTENTIAL FALLOUT FROM THIS BUDGET: number of clients affected? will you lose staff positions – if so, how many? will you have to cut services (be specific) – if so, how many clients will be affected?
- RELAY THAT D&A FUNDING WILL EXPERIENCE DRASTIC CUTS: eliminating completely the BHSI line-item ($47 million) and Act 152 monies ($18.175 million), along with the decrease from $36.8 million to $3.5 million the HSDF line item (Human Services Development Funds - discretionary funds utilized by counties for homelessness issues, substance abuse, etc.), NUMEROUS individuals will not receive substance abuse treatment. Studies show the overall benefits to D&A treatment - reduced physical health care spending, lower crime rates, and improved social functioning, among many others.
- RELAY THAT MH SERVICES WILL BE DRAMATICALLY AFFECTED: nearly $100 million has been eliminated from MH services ($48.8 million in state funds and $50.6 million in federal funds). With the proposed cuts to D&A, counties are also cutting MH and MR funding. Remind legislators that this is not just a D&A problem, as D&A cuts are crossing over and impacting MH budgets.
- RELAY THAT MR IS THE “FORGOTTEN” PIECE IN THE BUDGET TALKS: while MR has not experienced the same level of cuts as compared to D&A and MH, there is still no increase in funding; no COLA for MH/MR direct service professionals is realized in this budget; and the waiting list continues to grow.