Kathy Brown McHale Addresses Budget
2012-02-10T00:00:00
February 10, 2012
Dear Fellow SPIN Employees,
I last wrote to you in August regarding the very difficult financial challenges our organization is facing this fiscal year. I greatly appreciate the support that has been demonstrated as we have all endured this issue together. By and large, our employees have remained committed professionals intent on delivering performance excellence in all they do. I sincerely thank you for this.
Since August, the situation with our funding has become even worse. We received notice that our rates were cut by 6% effective November 15th. Upon being notified of these cuts we immediately moved to make further cost reductions in a people-first manner, assuring those we support continued to receive the highest quality cost effective service. We have also engaged in a campaign to fight these cuts first through a formal rate appeal and also by meeting with our legislators, writing letters to the Governor, asking families and self-advocates to write letters, and reaching out to the media who have supported us.
On Tuesday February 7, Governor Corbett delivered his budget for fiscal year 2013 to the legislature. While the analysis of how the Governor’s budget will impact us is not yet complete, we do know over $130 million has been reduced in intellectual disabilities and autism services across the state. These numbers level a devastating blow and it is clear that people will suffer from these cuts. I assure you, we will do everything we can to fight these reductions.
At the same time, with the goal of sustaining SPIN as a top quality service provider, we need to prepare ourselves for next year. In the coming weeks, we will make plans for further cuts to SPIN’s budget. Although 75% of our costs are related to our employees (wages, benefits, etc.), I have assured you there will be no forced layoffs during this fiscal year (through June 30, 2012) and no forced layoffs to our Collective Bargaining Unit Employees through September 30, 2012. We need everyone’s support as we reduce all spending in every category possible that does not affect our people-first services.
Please stay tuned to your emails and the portal and directly communicate questions and concerns with your supervisor and other managers as we strive to keep our SPIN community informed about the severe budget cuts we are facing. I thank you, for your service to people and your support of SPIN’s mission to achieve a life of possibilities for every person SPIN supports.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Brown McHale
President and CEO