It’s time to make our voices heard!

State Budget: From Bad to...

The California State Budget was settled in late February. Or was it? What we know for sure is that EBI will receive approximately $10,000 in funding cuts per month. With the help of our dedicated staff we have made adjustments to prepare for this cut.

There remain several, very troubling “unknowns” which include:

• An additional 100 million dollars in cuts to services for people with developmental disabilities statewide.
  The Department of Developmental Services in consultation with Stakeholder groups must decide how and where to make these additional cuts by April 1st 2009 to be implemented before September 1, 2009 or agencies like EBI will receive an additional 7.1% cut. For EBI a 7.1% cut is approximately another $25,000 per month.
• A hard spending cap for the State budget on the ballot in May 2009. Because the growth in number of people served in the developmental disabilities services system out paces the growth in California’s general population, advocates fear that a spending cap will effectively work to almost continuous cut funding for services.
• The Governor has estimated that the State will receive an $8 billion dollars in Federal Stimulus money. In the deal that sealed the agreement on State Budget. Both the Governor and the Democratic leadership estimated that California would almost certainly receive over $10 billion in Federal Stimulus and therefore listed a number of drastic cuts to go into effect only if the Stimulus money was less than $10 billion. Now the Governor is estimating that the Fed money will be $8 billion. If his estimate stands the following cuts would be implemented:
  • A 2% cut in the SSI monthly benefit;
  • The elimination of dental coverage under MediCal;
  • A $2 per hour or a 17% cut in the hourly pay of In Home Support Services workers.

Get Involved!
State Budget Cuts
Threaten People with Developmental Disabilities

You can help can make a true impact in Sacramento by contacting legislators and attending demonstrations to halt these cuts.

After you submit the information below, EBI will contact you to discuss our action plans and how you can get involved.

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