State Budget Cuts Hurt Marylanders with Disabilities
Your advocacy to stop Maryland’s budget cuts to disability services is making an impact! Please keep the pressure on. Tell your state legislators to stop budget cuts that hurt vulnerable Marylanders.
If you’ve already reached out, now is the time to reach out again.
If you haven’t yet contacted your elected officials, please do so in the next two weeks!
Without action by state legislators to stop the budget cuts, they will begin in July. These cuts imperil services that help the 200 people Jubilee supports achieve independence.
Maryland’s budget will trigger state and federal cuts that slash nearly half a billion dollars to developmental disability services. Cuts of this magnitude —$450 million— will reduce Jubilee’s budget by 19 percent. This will negatively impact our ability to recruit and retain frontline workers. It will have a chilling effect on Jubilee’s ability to help people achieve greater independence and community inclusion.
Here’s how you can help:
- Contact your state Senator and three Delegates to share your story. Explain how these cuts impact you and your loved one.
- Are you a family member that lives out of state? Find out which District your loved one lives in and make calls on their behalf.
- Encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to reach out too.
- Spread the word on social media. Tag your state legislators. Use the hashtag #SaveOurDDServices.
The disability community has a voice. And we are using it. Since the cuts were announced Jubilee joined with statewide advocates for a rally and advocacy day in Annapolis. We are meeting directly with elected officials along with Jubilee family members and people we support. Executive Director Steve Keener, direct support professional Anne Confer, and mom Carol Fried all testified at budget hearings. We’re working closely with our partner agencies and state advocates daily to stop the cuts.
The three areas of cuts to developmental disability services that directly impact Jubilee are:
- Geographic differential payment rate helps Jubilee pay a living wage to direct support professionals in Montgomery County. Without it, our starting pay rate for direct support professionals will drop below Montgomery County’s minimum wage July 1, 2025.
- Dedicated Support Hours provide one-on-one care to people with complex medical or behavioral needs. Without it, the health and safety of the people we support may be at risk if we are forced to ration care.
- State-Only Funding is for people who are not eligible for federal Medicaid funding. Without it, Jubilee cannot provide unfunded services for the 20 people who rely on it to pay for services.
Thank you for doing your part to stop the cuts and preserve developmental disability services.