We spent last week working on the prioritization of the governor’s budget proposal for the House Appropriation Committee. There was a lot of information to dig through and we did come up with a few areas of concern. When COVID-19 hit there was a shutdown of adult day centers, such as Out and About in Morrisville, across the state. These important providers have seen a significant drop in revenue over the past months and a couple have closed their doors permanently.
The committee recommended a one-time allocation to make sure that they are able to reopen as we start to emerge from COVID. There is a direct correlation between limited access to these services and an increase in nursing home admissions.
The committee was also concerned that designated and specialized service agencies, including home- and community-based providers should receive a cost of living increase. These agencies provide a myriad of services that include helping people experiencing substance use disorder, people with mental health conditions, people with developmental disabilities and older Vermonters.
This increase is directly related to the impact that COVID had on these frontline workers.
To offset a portion of this increase, the committee found that the proposed budget had accounted for a caseload increase that over the past three years was underspent.
There were a number of other concerns that the committee had with the proposed budget. We wanted to make sure that there was sufficient funding for child care, that foster parents were adequately compensated and that savings from transportation restructure was not allocated before they were realized. Now that the Appropriations Committee has the reports, we will look at the whole budget and suggest appropriate changes before the budget goes to the whole House for a vote. The full text of the letter can be found on our committee website under Feb. 19 testimony.
This week we will work on restructuring how our child-care system is working, or some may say, not working. The bill H.171 looks at how child-care providers are compensated, how the child-care assistance program is funded and how it helps our workforce get access to safe and affordable child care. This bill has tri-partisan support and will end up moving through a couple of committees before it reaches the House floor.
On Saturday, Feb. 27, 9-10 a.m., join Rep. Kate Donnally, Sen. Richard Westman and me on Zoom for a community conversation. This is an opportunity to connect with us about your questions, concerns, issues that you are passionate about, or to listen to the thoughts and questions of your neighbors. Register at forms.gle/Loxqix1gX9h9mrKi6 or send me an email for the link.
Dan Noyes, a Democrat from Johnson, also represents Elmore, Woodbury and Worcester in the House.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexual language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be proactive. Use the "Report" link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.