Governor’s May Revise offers relief for some regional center consumers, but leaves most people out. We have three weeks left to persuade our leaders to leave no one behind.
For everyone who relies on services through Regional Centers, the May Revise to the Governor’s Budget is one of the most important events of every year. It represents the Governor’s decisions about how California will fund all of its operations – including programs that serve people through Regional Centers. This year Regional Centers throughout the State and the communities they serve have spoken up like never before. After more than twenty years of funding neglect our system needs help this year.
Together, we have all pressed our elected officials to grant a modest eight percent increase for all consumer services and for service coordination provided by Regional Centers. We had reason to be optimistic. We have a new Governor who is inheriting a massive budget surplus. If ever there is a right time to restore our system to health, this is that time.
But when the Governor released his budget, we were surprised to find that he split the needs of our community. He offered substantial and urgently needed new funding for people who utilize residential, supported living, supported employment, and individualized services. But he offered no increase at all for consumers who depend upon our network of day programs for job training, community integration training and all manner of services on a daily basis.
We are sincerely grateful for the increases that people utilizing selected services will receive. In our area, the cost pressures on housing, labor and other necessities has made the operation of these services all but impossible. But we must not allow programs that thousands of our consumers depend upon to wither without the support they need to properly serve people. We must continue to press for the eight percent increase for all these programs.
The time to act is right now. Our request – authored by Assemblymembers Chris Holden and Jim Frazier is still alive in the State Assembly, Budget Subcommittee 1. It is scheduled for a for a vote on Tuesday the 21st. You can call, Email or fax 3 people.
You just need to tell them: You appreciate the Governor’s increases for some services but you support the Budget Request by Assemblymembers Holden and Frazier for 8% increases for all other Regional Center consumer services. We all need help regardless of the kind of service we need. Please support the Holden –Frazier Request”
Assemblymember Eloise Reyes, Chair Assembly Budget Subcommittee 1
Email attention: Amer Rashid amer.rashid@asm.ca.gov,
Tel: (916) 319-2047 Fax: (916) 319-2147
Speaker of the Assembly, Anthony Rendon
Email: Gail Gronert gail.gronert@asm.ca.
Tel: (916) 319-2063 Fax: (916) 319-2163
Governor Gavin Newsom
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160
For Email message: https://govapps.gov.
Please Contact all 3 today!
Download Legislative Appeal Letter (Word Document) – Click Here
Download Self Advocate Support Statement (Word Document) – Click Here
