Governor Balances Budget on the Backs of the Most Vulnerable
The Governor announced his budget balancing measures this afternoon, placing the biggest burden on the backs of low-income Minnesotans. His unallotments take $236 million from the Health & Human Services budget including:
Eliminates Emergency General Assistance ($15 million)
Eliminates grants to counties for low-income and disabled individuals or families to provide basic need items for emergency situations, most often related to housing or utilities.
Cuts to GRH 5% Supplemental Service Rate ($1.8 million)
Providers affected by this reduction include homeless shelters, board and lodge homes with special services, and housing for long-term homeless individuals and families.
Ends GAMC effective March 1, 2010 ($15 million)
This ends General Assistance Medical Care 1.5 months sooner that would have occurred as a result of the line-item veto for FY 2011.
Reduces Children & Community Services Grants ($39 million)
Counties use these flexible funds to provide social service programs for children, adolescents and other individuals.
Cuts to Renters’ Credit ($51 million)
This would impact 300,000 renters in 2010 - the portion of the rent used to calculate the refund would be reduced from 19% of rent paid to 15%.
For the complete list of cuts, visit: http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/unallotment/unallotment_2009.pdf
The Governor welcomes public input by email at budgetideas@state.mn.us. Please send him a note.
