This Fourth of July holiday had found us traveling across the midwest to see family in South Dakota. Each state we have spent time in, Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota are all facing very tough decisions regarding state funding. A common theme in each is that they must cut spending with human services and education heading the list.
In Illinois, a budget impasse – which we avoided in Indiana – is leaving many families and community organizations wondering what will happen. In Minnesota, the Governor is using his authority to reduce the budget and people with disabilities will face real cuts.
There is no doubt that our future ability to educate and support people with disabilities in Indiana will depend on how quickly our economy responds to federal and state initiatives. Many believe we have not hit bottom yet, others see signs that it the economy is responding to these initiatives.
It is going to be a tough two years as the budget passed by the General Assembly will force some difficult choices. The state budget combined with the reduced county revenue adds to the problem. Some of our county leaders are working hard to continue their support of programs for people with disabilities while others have already targeted eliminating county funding for programs for people with disabilities, will put tremendous pressure on agencies and families.
Our work is just beginning as we look toward the future. It will again come back to how well we organize, find new answers to these challenging problems and pull together. We have done it before and will again.
One of the values of traveling is realizing how good home looks. Seeing what is happening in other states makes me realize how very good it is to be from Indiana – because of you. Thanks for all you do.
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