Hartford, CT - Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (CT Nonprofits), the largest membership organization in the state dedicated exclusively to working with nonprofits in Connecticut, offers a nonprofit perspective on the FY 12-13 budget recommendations released by the Appropriations Committee earlier today.
The budget recommendations released by the Appropriation Committee for the 2012-2013 biennial budget follow in the footsteps of Governor Malloy in preserving the safety net. The Appropriations Committee retained increased funding originally proposed by Governor Malloy for supportive housing and rental assistance, as well caseload growth in the Departments of Social Services, Developmental Services and Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Additionally, the committee eliminated the Governor’s proposed cost-sharing under Medicaid and restored funding to the Nurturing Families Network non-hospital sites in New Haven and Hartford. CT Nonprofits is grateful the Appropriations Committee saw the well-documented success of this prevention program and the higher long-term costs that it averts. Nonprofit health and human services cannot sustain any further budget reductions and continue to meet the growing needs of Connecticut residents.
“Nonprofits and those we serve have faced years of chronic underfunding and the results have only been compounded by the recession and current economy. Our members have faced three years in a row without a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) coupled with budget cuts and rescissions,” said Ron Cretaro, Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Nonprofits. “We are grateful that the Appropriations Committee, Legislative Leadership and Governor Malloy have made protecting the safety net a priority as they work to solve the state’s budget deficit.”
The Appropriations Committee also increased funding for Culture, Tourism and Arts grants, which will now be funded through the Department of Economic and Community Development.
The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee also released their revenue recommendations today.
“We are glad that the Finance Committee built upon Governor Malloy’s original recommendation to make the state’s income tax more progressive, but also took it a step further by asking for more from those most able to afford it,” Cretaro said.
The Committee also maintained the Governor’s proposed Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) at 30%, which will benefit many recipients of nonprofit services.
Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (CT Nonprofits) is the largest membership organization in the state dedicated exclusively to working with nonprofits in Connecticut. As the voice of nonprofits, the association has advanced the social and economic impact of nonprofits for over 30 years. CT Nonprofits helps members focus their energy on the people and communities they serve by connecting organizations with information, education, advocacy and collaboration. For more information, please visit www.ctnonprofits.org.
