Hartford, Conn. (PRWEB) February 06, 2013
Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (CT Nonprofits), the largest membership organization in the state dedicated exclusively to working with nonprofits in Connecticut, offers industry perspective on the FY 2014-2015 State budget announced earlier today by Governor Dannel Malloy.
“We are grateful to the Governor for creating a bond pool and for the historic support both he and the Legislature have provided to Connecticut’s nonprofit community through traditional bonding programs,” said Ron Cretaro, Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Nonprofits. “We realize the Governor is in a difficult position and respect his continued efforts to help the nonprofit community.”
As partners with the state, nonprofits provide efficient, cost-effective health and human services on the state’s behalf that help ensure Connecticut residents can live healthy, safe lives. While the Governor’s new bonding initiative may address some of the issues nonprofits face in terms of funding projects to lower administrative costs, they are still faced with low pay and rising benefit costs, such as health insurance, that their operating budgets cannot support. Prior to the one half of one percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) in January 2013, nonprofits have not received a cost of living increase for 4 years.
“We have faced 20-years of chronic underfunding and experienced budget deficits resulting in rescissions and cuts that threaten our ability to provide quality services – services that are vital to Connecticut’s most vulnerable citizens,” Cretaro said.
While the establishment of the Bond Pool is a positive step, CT Nonprofits encourages the Governor to engage the nonprofit community in developing new program guidelines and lien forgiveness language for those programs/facilities which are forced to close due to state budget reductions, program eliminations or policy changes. Currently bonding grants-in-aid to nonprofits include ten year liens with the liability decreasing by ten percent each year.
In addition to the Bonding Infrastructure program for health and human service nonprofits, the Governor has proposed consolidation of contracting for private providers through the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services. The Governor has also allocated funds to support significant caseload expansion at DDS & DMHAS, funding for which CT Nonprofits wishes to express its appreciation to Governor Malloy.
Unfortunately, the Governor’s Budget has eliminated numerous important programs for children at the Children’s Trust Fund; Fair Housing in the Department of Economic & Community Development; Centers for Independent Living in the Department of Rehabilitation Services; job training programs at the Department of Labor; Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program in the Department of Education; and, new school-based health centers in the Department of Public Health, among other vital programs.
Following today’s state budget announcement, CT Nonprofits will work with the Governor and legislators over the next several months to seek sensible ways to balance the budget without further harming nonprofits and threatening their ability to meet increased demand for services. Throughout the process, CT Nonprofits will advocate for sustainable programs, long-term solutions and a continued investment in nonprofits and the communities they serve.
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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 http://www.ctnonprofits.org.