ALERT: Budget Cuts

ALERT: Statewide Budget Cuts Affect Services to Marylanders with Developmental Disabilities

Despite the tireless efforts by human service providers throughout the state, on August 26 Governor O’Malley announced significant budget cuts to agencies providing services to people with developmental disabilities. This 2% reduction in funding, along with an earlier budget cut in July, will impact thousands of Maryland citizens and their families.

Agencies providing services through the Maryland Developmental Disability Administration (DDA) have fallen farther and farther behind in state funding that has not kept pace with inflation and is insufficient to cover mandated directives from the state.

SEEC has worked for years to meet the needs of the people we support using creativity, efficiency, and partnerships to compensate for under-funding by DDA. While other programs were prioritized by the Governor to feel less or no impact by the budget cuts, health programs in general - and DDA programs in particular - have suffered. As a result SEEC, like other DDA service providers throughout Maryland, must implement changes that will impact supports and services.

“I cannot express how disheartening this is for many agencies and for SEEC in particular, “commented SEEC’s executive director Karen Lee. “I have been here for 20 years and have seen SEEC grow into an agency of opportunity for many with high standards of quality. We have no choice but to identify programs, services, opportunities, and levels of care that are under-funded by the state and reduce or cut those supports. We will address these specifics with DDA to give them the opportunity to work with us to secure adequate funding.”

For decades, SEEC has supplemented DDA funding with county funds, fundraisers, grants, and private contributions. However, this recent loss of nearly $80,000 in state funds has greatly increased the existing significant gap in available revenue and the actual costs of the supports and services we provide. We have absorbed all of our additional revenue and continue to make up for the short-fall of DDA’s under-funding year after year.

SEEC fought hard to try to prevent these budget cuts and their devastating  impact on Maryland residents who have been long-underserved – including members of the SEEC family. We will continue our quest to raise funds through alternative avenues and streamline expenses as we look for ways to minimally impact the men and women we support.