NJ budget cuts could mean 1,000 jobs lost for disabled people

From The Star-Ledger in NJ:

When Gov. Jon Corzine announced his budget ax would spare the "most vulnerable" residents of New Jersey, nonprofit agencies that prepare the disabled for jobs assumed their programs would be safe.

Instead, they were stunned to learn his budget included a $3.8 million cut they say will likely mean a loss of 1,000 jobs for disabled people and the firing of 50 job coaches and drivers who ensure their clients report to work every day. The program currently gets about $30 million from the state.

"We thought he couldn't have been aware of (the cut)," Nils Richardson, president and chief executive officer for the Association for Choices in Community Supports and Employment Services in New Jersey, said of the governor. "So many jobs will be lost by the most vulnerable."

Workers and agency representatives plan to rally at the Statehouse April 30 to demonstrate to Corzine and the Legislature what the loss of funding would mean.

The protesters -- representing 6,500 workers with disabilities who are in employment programs -- will try to convince lawmakers to restore the money. Inside the Statehouse, the Assembly Budget Committee will be discussing the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's proposed budget.

Disabled workers and the agencies that assist them have already sent thousands of letters to lawmakers, and every day this week a handful of workers has distributed fliers to people outside the Statehouse.

"Their safety net is being taken away," said Mark Lasky, who runs the Occupational Center of Union County, a job training and placement center in Roselle that serves about 240 people with various disabilities.

Employment programs for the disabled "send a staff person who initially spends an intense amount of time on-site, then they fade out" as the employee grows more proficient, Lasky said. Fewer dollars would mean agencies would have to cut back on the length of time they supervise someone getting used to a new job.

"With these budget cuts, if we get someone a job, there is possibility they might not succeed," Lasky said.

When people with disabilities fail to thrive in a job, Lasky's agency allows them to return to work in one of its workshops or its on-site packaging operation, which has sales of about $1.5 million a year.

"If the cuts stick, we may not have ability to take the people back," Lasky said.

Employment program providers have urged lawmakers to restore the cuts by tapping New Jersey's share of the federal stimulus package.

"The federal stimulus funds are designated to help states avoid critical cuts, to save jobs and to save businesses," Maureen Walliser, president of Hudson Community Enterprises, told the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee during a March 24 hearing. "Our requests fully qualify on all counts."

The Corzine administration yesterday defended the cut to the employment programs, noting nearly all state programs are taking a 10 percent hit "to help
close a looming $7 billion shortfall," Treasury spokesman Tom Vincz said.

Labor Commissioner David J. Socolow will work with the employment agencies to ensure they are operating as cheaply as possible so state money funds as many job openings as possible, Vincz said.

"It's premature to make a judgment about specific reductions and how they will (affect) the community at this stage," Vincz said.

Assemblyman Louis Greenwald, (D-Camden), chairman of the Assembly budget committee, said he understands both sides of the debate, and will do his best to reach a compromise.

"These difficult economic times required Governor Corzine to make difficult choices in his proposed budget," Greenwald said. "Any cut that restricts individuals with disabilities from earning a living and contributing to New Jersey's economy is concerning. Our goal should be to ensure the highest quality of life for New Jerseyans with disabilities. As with other proposed changes, this is something we will continue to evaluate throughout the budget process."