Herkimer-ARC Reacts To Governor's Proposed Budget Cuts
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: March 1, 2013
Federal spending isn't the only thing concerning non-profit human
service agencies. Just last week, the Herkimer County ARC, which is the
county's second largest employer, found out the Governor is proposing
$120-million dollars in cuts to the Office of People With Developmental
Disabilities. Representatives with the ARC say that would have a
devastating impact on the people they serve as well as their 400
employees, and the area's economy. Staff spent the day writing letters
to law-makers and meeting with Senator James Seward to voice their
concerns.
"We literally touch thousands of people on a daily basis so multiply that by the providers in Mohawk Valley people and you realize that there are tens of thousands of people that will be affected by that 6% cut," says Kevin Crosley, executive director of Herkimer-ARC.
"There's a lot to do. This is a significant amount of money we have to look to save somewhere else in the state budget. But I am committed to do that and I know that a number of my colleagues at the capital feel the same way," says Senator James Seward, (R/C/I-Oneonta).
We're told the proposed spending change would affect about 700 agencies that provide services to people with developmental disabilities across New York State. That decrease will take affect April 1st unless action is taken.
"We literally touch thousands of people on a daily basis so multiply that by the providers in Mohawk Valley people and you realize that there are tens of thousands of people that will be affected by that 6% cut," says Kevin Crosley, executive director of Herkimer-ARC.
"There's a lot to do. This is a significant amount of money we have to look to save somewhere else in the state budget. But I am committed to do that and I know that a number of my colleagues at the capital feel the same way," says Senator James Seward, (R/C/I-Oneonta).
We're told the proposed spending change would affect about 700 agencies that provide services to people with developmental disabilities across New York State. That decrease will take affect April 1st unless action is taken.
