Scott Lifts Order Cutting Fla. Disabled Funding
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) – Services for disabled people in the state of Florida will not get cut after all. Gov. Rick Scott has lifted his order holding back $30 million for services in a deal with Florida legislative leaders.
Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon agreed Thursday to provide an infusion of cash for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
Scott had ordered a 15-percent cut in payments to service providers two weeks ago after the agency ran up a $174 million deficit.
The governor said he will continue working with lawmakers and advocates for the disabled on finding ways to avoid future shortfalls.
The agency has repeatedly exceeded its budget in recent years.
Lawmakers tried to fix the problem in the past by limiting payments for those with less severe disabilities, but the deficits have continued.
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities provides services to about 30,000 Floridians with cerebral palsy, autism and Down syndrome. More than 19,000 people are on a waiting list and receive no services.
The deficit — which exceeds the agency's spending authority by nearly 20 percent — is partly the legacy of lawsuits, poor planning by the Legislature and a nearly $20 million veto by Scott's predecessor, Charlie Crist, who starved the program of savings when he refused to trim provider rates last summer.
Scott's decision to cut rates sparked protests. In Tallahassee last week, hundreds of protesters rallied outside the Capitol and then crammed into Scott's office. Some group homes announced they would have to close.
Had Scott done nothing, the agency was scheduled to go broke in mid-May.
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