OPEA

At the OPEA/OKDHS Day at the Capitol, legislators told participants a “share the burden” approach was the best way to address the serious funding challenges the state is facing in the next two fiscal years.

“Both common and higher education have been held harmless,” Rep. Randy Terrill told participants. “If they don’t take their part of the cuts, the effect will be devastating to core state services.”

OPEA members, who work for the Department of Human Services, brought their message to the state capitol on Tuesday about the devastating impact of proposed budget cuts. According to information from the agency, OKDHS could be facing a $96 million budget hole for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Over lunch, participants had an opportunity to hear the latest on the budget negotiations from legislators, many of whom changed their schedules at the last minute to visit with state employees.

Senator Brian Crain, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services shared with the group the problem of holding half the budget harmless to reductions. With education at 55 percent of the budget, restricting the cuts to the other 45 percent of the budget would be devastating to critical state services.

“Everyone needs to share this burden,” said Crain. “We support you in the share the burden approach.”

“We lose federal matching funds in service to older folks, if you cut the ADvantage program” said Rep. George Faught. “I would like to see education take their fair share of the cuts. You have my commitment on this.”

“Thank you for being here,” said House Appropriations Chair Rep. Ken Miller. “What you do for the citizens of Oklahoma is important. We need to do what is best for Oklahoma citizens.”

“Fees on services to be certain that they pay for themselves are being considered,” said Rep. Jason Nelson in response to a question about revenue enhancement. “We are also considering suspending tax credits. The only thing that is not on the table is a tax increase. The budget problem is so bad that there is no one solution.”

Rep. Nelson continued that he favored a rational approach to the budget, funding the most critical services first.

“These are tough times,” said Sen. Harry Coates. “We need to put the money where it has the best effect and gets the best bang for the buck.”

“It is helpful when we visit offices in our districts,” said Sen. Brian Bingman, who told the group of participants he was looking forward to a meeting in the Creek County DHS office. “We have tremendous decisions to make. We want to sit down and work with you and make sure you are a part of the process.”

In addition, Representatives John Wright, Ann Coody, Weldon Watson and Mike Jackson echoed concern for OKDHS funding and support for the critical services provided by the agency. Sandra Benischek-Harrison, from the OKDHS Office of Legislative Relations and Policy briefed participants on details of the current budget cuts and the proposed reductions for FY 2011.

Following lunch and meetings with local legislators, the group held a press conference to discuss their concern for services provided by OKDHS.

“If these cuts are implemented, OKDHS workers are concerned about their ability to deliver services in these challenging economic times,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley, opening the press conference. “Furloughing workers and program cuts will result in loss of services that support working families, including nutrition assistance, day care, and in-home support for the elderly and disabled. More serious is the potential impact of cuts to the disabled, elderly, and children at risk of abuse and neglect.”

Three OPEA members from OKDHS also spoke about the impact of the proposed budget cuts on the services they provide.

"The proposed cuts to the ADvantage program are troubling,” said Tom Dunning, Programs Administrator, OKDHS Home and Community-Based Services. “Last year we served 22,000 seniors helping them live independently in their homes. Cuts to the ADvantage program would force citizens into nursing homes, which is not only more expensive but a great fear for seniors.

Having an elder in their home longer is a benefit to the entire family. These cuts could set this service back at a time when the population coming on board to access this service is growing as never before.”

“The children we work with are the most vulnerable,” said Lora Adams, a Child Welfare Supervisor from Oklahoma County. “They have been abused and neglected and our number one priority is to be certain they are safe.”

She outlined the progress child welfare has made under the new practice model. One thousand fewer children are in out-of-home placements, the lowest number in ten years. Also, Oklahoma is third in the nation in moving children to permanency.

“It’s already increasingly difficult to get our job done in 40 hours,” Adams added. “There is absolutely no way to get it done in 36. Children are counting on us. We will be losing valuable time from these children. We are all that they have. If they call us and can’t get to us because we are furloughed, what does that say to them? It tells them no one cares.”

“I am from a rural county of 21,000 people,” said Craig Mahl, County Director for Beckham and Roger Mills County. “Of those 21,000 people 5,400 are on medical assistance. In FY 2009, we put $9.7 million into the local economic base in benefits and food stamps. With the decline in the economy food stamps alone have increased by 72 percent. In 2000, I had 17 staff in family support, now I have 10 and a half. With furloughs, it will be more and more difficult to deliver the services.”

“Cuts in the OKDHS budget could result in the state paying more in nursing home and foster care costs,” concluded Zearley. “The potential state budget expense of these cuts is severe but the human costs are potentially devastating.”