To: Governor Andrew Cuomo

Don’t cut services for people with special needs in New York. Restore the 6%.

Governor: Don’t cut services for people with special needs in New York. Restore the 6%. People with special needs are important too.

Why is this important?

The Governor’s proposed budget reduces monies for the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities by more than 7% from the 2012 level and imposes a 6% rate cut on non-profit service providers who care for those with special needs- at a cost far below when the state provides the services directly. At the same time, Albany leadership is considering at least $700 million in new tax cuts.

The Assembly and the Senate proposed budgets would restore the 6% ($120 million which triggers an equal federal match). Public reports indicate that the Governor will accept the tax cuts but resists restoring the 6%.