To the Editor:
Services at The Arc of Madison Cortland are at risk of being reduced or cut.
As you may have heard in the news, Governor Cuomo wants to raise the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour but does not want to fund the increase!
What does that mean for The Arc of Madison Cortland? It means without needed funding to support the minimum wage increase, programs and services at The Arc of Madison Cortland will either be dramatically reduced or eliminated.
The minimum wage increase will cost The Arc of Madison Cortland along with the additional cuts the state has imposed in 2017 – a $2,500,000 loss and by 2021 the loss is expected to be – $6,000,000. This is a cut of nearly one third of our operating budget!
There is no doubt that the staff that provide care and support to people with developmental disabilities deserve to be paid $15 per hour. However, unlike a store that can raise the cost of their product to pay for the increase we cannot. NYS sets the amount we are allowed to receive for a service provided. We cannot increase that amount without NYS giving us the money. Therefore, if NYS will not give us the money to pay for the increase in minimum wage, The Arc of Madison Cortland will have no choice but to cut programs and support for people with disabilities.
To me, this is a huge slap in the face to all of the families and individuals who need support. A promise was made by Governor Mario Cuomo in 1987 upon the closing of Willowbrook State School and then another promise made by his son, Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“The end of this institution symbolizes the success and appropriateness of NYS’s commitment to provide an extensive and comprehensive program of community living opportunities for its citizens with developmental disabilities.”-Governor Mario Cuomo, 1987
Approximately twenty-five years later, his son, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, “In difficult economic times, we must protect key social programs including funding for housing, healthcare, children’s programs, and combating hunger. There are fiscally prudent ways to balance a growing budget deficit without gutting the programs for the neediest and most vulnerable New Yorkers. We must ensure that critical programs receive adequate funding to protect vulnerable children and families.”– Governor Andrew Cuomo (Thank you to Dan Brown, Executive Director Franziska Racker Centers for bringing this quote to my attention)
Of all the years I have been with The Arc of Madison Cortland never have I seen the future so dark. Every year it seems, NYS tries to cut programs and services for people with disabilities and every year we find ourselves in Albany fighting for the rights of people with disabilities.
Essentially this proposal by the Governor for an unfunded minimum wage increase may very well force us to close our doors affecting 1,025 people with developmental disabilities, more than 2,000 family members, and more than 500 employees.
The Arc of Madison Cortland supports the $15 minimum wage increase with the necessary funding provided by New York State. Call Governor Cuomo at (518) 474-1041 and press 3 to speak to his assistant and tell him to fund the minimum wage increase. This funding is critical to the health, safety, and well-being of people with developmental disabilities. To raise the minimum wage and not fund it will leave the most vulnerable New Yorkers without the services they need. TELL GOVERNOR CUOMO TO KEEP HIS PROMISE!
Thank you for your ACTION! To become more involved, please send an email toChristine.Sears@arcofmc.org. Your continued support of The Arc of Madison Cortland and the work we do makes our community a welcoming and caring place to live. We can’t do it without you.
I will be scheduling Family Forums in the near future to provide everyone with additional information on potential impacts.
Jack C. Campbell, Executive Director