by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
Services across the state that support individuals with developmental disabilities came together last week in Tallahassee to let it be known the consequences of the gap in the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) budget.
Locally, about 75 consumers, their families and staff of The Arc Jacksonville boarded a bus to Tallahassee to be a part of a press conference that drew over 600 people — all urging lawmakers to use “Rainy Day” funds (the Working Capital Trust Fund) to help bridge the $150 million deficit in the APD budget. APD supports individuals with developmental disabilities in their community.
“In this fiscal year the Agency for Persons with Disabilities mismanaged its spending by $150 million more than they were appropriated,” said Jim Whittaker, executive director of The Arc Jacksonville. “We held the rally, press conference to bring it to the attention of the legislators.”
Currently the House of Representatives, the Senate and Gov. Charlie Crist are debating how they are going to deal with this deficit.
“We are fearful that our critical services and supporters might be gone,” said Whittaker. “It is a crisis and cutting services or eliminating them totally is not the answer.”
During the press conference individuals with disabilities, families, and supporters asked the Legislature to take funds out of the “Rainy Day” account to plug the hole in the budget, said Whittaker. They are asking that legislators appropriate $75 million dollars to cover the deficit in the APD budget.
“We don’t think that is going to happen, but we hope whatever is determined isn’t going to put people in jeopardy,” he said. “We know the legislators are frustrated that the APD has done this, but it isn’t fair to take it out on the individuals who are receiving services.”
Whittaker and his employees, along with several other people across the state, are hoping legislators will come to a conclusion in the next few weeks. Whittaker said whatever is decided will go into effect July 1.
“We may know what will happen by next week. We just hope it isn’t going to affect the lives of the folks we serve,” he said.
Cost-cutting measures to fix the deficit could result in thousands of individuals being forced to move into more costly care. Thousands of other individuals who live independently may lose their homes and families may be unable to keep their family members at home.
Whittaker said he’s not sure what this means to The Arc Jacksonville right now.
“I don’t know how it is going to affect us until the plan is adopted,” he said. “There are possibilities that group homes will be closing and our day services may be cut back.
“The ramifications are pretty extensive.”
Once a new plan has been adopted, The Arc Jacksonville will determine how it will effect their programs and services.
“There are so many ideas floating around right now and they (legislators) have to agree on one plan,” said Whittaker.
The Arc Jacksonville currently provides services to 420 people and Whittaker isn’t sure how many people the lack of funding could potentially affect.
“Right now it is just a waiting period,” he said.