The income tax question on the ballot this fall is a reckless proposal that will have severe and immediate consequences for all of us, including people with disabilities and their families. This binding referendum will take more than $12 billion—nearly 40 percent—out of the state budget, driving up local property taxes and leading to drastic cuts in services, such as disability services. Our communities will suffer sweeping education cuts, steep reductions in public safety personnel and further deterioration of roads and bridges. Times are hard enough. Let’s not make them worse.
If Question 1 passes, the impact would be devastating for people with disabilities and their families. The Arc estimates that the $12.5 billion cut in revenue from the state budget – a 40 percent reduction – would manifest itself in the following way:
Ø 4,000 individuals currently living in group homes and apartments would be homeless.
Ø 11,000 families would lose some or all support services (like respite) that keep their families together
Ø 240 (out of more than 600) students with disabilities will graduate high school and NOT get the services they need to transition to adult-life. These numbers would grow with subsequent years
Ø The DOE-DMR program, widely lauded for providing children with disabilities support services that allow them to stay at home instead of going to residential schools would be completely decimated. Having already lost 33% of their budget through 9C cuts, more than half of the programs recipients in total (247 of 538) would lose services.
Ø About 6,500 individuals would lose Day or Employment services, potentially creating a domino effect in which a caretaker may have to leave their job to be at home.
Ø On top of the 60 individuals who lost their Autism Waiver services in the last round of 9C cuts, this account, which serves an increasing population of children with autism, would lose an additional $2 million dollars, affecting hundreds more individuals with autism and their families.
Please Note: these forecasted cuts are only in the DDS budget . It does not reflect similar cuts that would occur in other disability agencies -- Mass. Rehabilitation Commission, Mass. Commission on the Blind; Mass. Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, MassHealth, Dept. of Mental Health and Dept. of Mental Retardation.
Here is what we know
- The income tax proposal will cost the Commonwealth more than $12 billion in revenues
- That’s 40 percent of the state budget
- This is a binding proposal that will become law effective January 1, 2009
This reckless proposal will:
- Drive up local property taxes
- Have dire consequences for our communities, putting:
- Education at risk with:
- Larger class sizes
- Fewer afterschool programs
- More school closings
- Health care at risk for:
- People with disabilities
- Working families
- Seniors
- Public safety at risk with:
- Fewer emergency response personnel
- Longer 911 wait times
- Fewer police officers and firefighters
- Our infrastructure at risk with:
- Unsafe bridges
- Broken roads and more potholes
- Cuts in service to public transportation
- Put our fragile economy and job market at even greater risk
What to do about it
- Register to Vote by Oct. 15
- Pledge to VOTE NO
- Sign up for email from VoteNoMA.com to stay informed. As volunteer opportunities arise VoteNoMA.com will contact you.
- Tell your friends and family to VOTE NO. Let them know that you think this is a reckless and bad idea.
- For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions about Voting & People with Disabilities
Times are hard enough. Let’s not make them worse.