Disability providers say they need triple what Ducey offers

Regional News

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From AZ Capitol Times:

Advocates for the disability community say the governor’s budget proposal is nearly $50 million short of what disability service providers need to keep up with Arizona’s minimum wage increase next year, and the problem is only going to get worse.

Unless lawmakers decide to nearly triple the funding Gov. Doug Ducey offered to the disability service providers in his fiscal year 2018 budget, many providers say they’ll be left with no choice but to close, leaving those in Arizona’s disabled community without any lifeline to help them live independently and get and keep jobs.

The Arizona Association of Providers for People with Disabilities estimated that its network of providers needs $73.8 million to continue running through FY18. However, the Governor’s Office only allotted $25.1 million in funding services for the remainder of FY17 and FY18.

After Arizonans approved Proposition 206, which increased the legal minimum wage to $10 an hour effective January 1, and Flagstaff voters approved Proposition 414, which will raise the minimum wage in Flagstaff to $12 an hour starting in July, agencies associated with AAPPD face extreme budget issues.

Prior to Prop. 206 passing, AAPPD was already underfunded, but this new law has exacerbated the situation.