I strongly object to the governor’s budget amendment #24 (affecting Item 274 of the budget) which resurrects the same proposal that appeared in the introduced budget to shift $7.5 million in state match costs to local governments by reclassifying therapeutic foster care (TFC) as a residential service. These are critical health and human service programs and asking local government to either raise property taxes or cancel them is the worse kind of passing the buck. The state needs to be a partner in our health care system and should not run and hide when it comes to an equitable share of supporting community needs. It is ironic that the same day the Governor objects to a PE requirement because it would pass new costs on local government, he proposes this change that also passes on new costs to local government. The health of our kids in Foster Care deserves support at both the state and local level. These particular programs are especially expensive because of the intensity of service the children need. That is exactly why this should be a state-local partnership. We have to work together to support Foster Care children and their families. I hope the House and Senate reject this buck-passing and service reducing idea once again. This is also another great example of why we need more people in Richmond with local government experience. The public rightly expects a partnership between state and local services. We can’t solve our biggest problems by passing the buck. It is time for some new ideas in Richmond.
We have to stop passing the buck to local government
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