Phoenix of Funding

Out of the ashes (cigarette ash more likely according to the new tax) funding for employment services for students with developmental disabilities transitioning to adult services from high school arose. So what does the tax on a can of Budweiser beer or pop (soda for non-natives) yield - well it means that around 1,000 students graduating from special education will have employment services available to them when they graduate. This $4.5 million infusion of funds is a huge relief after the “regular 09-11 budget” session slashed any funding for students hoping to work after high school. The governor and the majority of legislators calling for reasonableness in fiscal approach protecting the state’s most vulnerable indeed supported funding for adults with developmental disabilities. If the rallying cries of “jobs are the way out of the recession” then the legislature heard the call and stepped up to the plate on this and backed their rhetoric with action. The proposed cut of general employment services by another 3% also was rescinded. Before you get all hopped up (pardon the pun) over forking out extra denaro for your precious MGD to preserve funding remember that the state slashed 3% from the funding last year and since agencies such as Morningside had only received 2.5% COLA in the last 10 years we were looking at funding levels used to support individuals at 1995 rates – trust me it will be difficult to support at year 2000 rates given all the increases over the last 10 years (I think our health care cost alone had doubled in that time). So all-in-all I am quite pleased. I am pleased for the students and their families who now have hope instead of despair.