Gov. Jack Markell proposed a About 3,500 single adults $3.4 billion budget Thursday receive checks of about $94 a that would close a $216.4 month through the welfare million budget shortfall with program, according to DHSS. spending cuts, efficiencies, The governor cut the program one-time revenue sources and because of a concern that it the first layoffs of his wasn't addressing the root administration. causes of the recipients' Markell's proposed 2012 poverty, Landgraf said. fiscal year budget books $8.2 "I couldn't evaluate what million in savings for cost type of return we got for containment in Medicaid and that investment," Landgraf state worker fringe benefits, said. but doesn't say how those As an alternative, Markell cuts will be achieved. proposed keeping $1.5 million "It looks to me to be very of the general assistance philosophical," said Rep. program intact for DHSS to Ruth Briggs King, R- hire a contractor to connect Georgetown, of the proposed recipients with existing cuts. "But I just don't see social services, Landgraf the substance telling us how said. this is going to be (3 of 3) accomplished." McDowell, whose committee Briggs King is one of 12 will decide the fate of the lawmakers who will begin proposed cut, said he was dissecting Markell's budget "concerned" about gutting the on Monday, when the Joint cash assistance. Finance Committee opens six "It makes me nervous because weeks of public hearings. I do know a lot of people out Lawmakers have until June 30 there, but for that help, to send Markell a balanced would be in dire straits," budget. McDowell said. The Democratic governor said As part of the $100 million the budget can be balanced in cuts, Markell's proposal with no additional taxes. eliminates the state's entire But to do so, Markell share of the farmland and proposed slashing spending by open-space preservation $100.6 million, with the programs, totalling $20 deepest cuts coming to million. farmland preservation, McDowell, D-Wilmington North, school bus transportation, said he is against higher education and health eliminating those programs. and social services. "If that's a one-year "It's a pretty austere budget, suspension, that's one thing, " said Sen. Harris McDowell, " McDowell said. "Maybe it the new Democratic co- might be better to spread the chairman of the budget- cut over two or three years. writing JFC. Sometimes when you go to zero Markell called the reductions like that, you lose an awful "painful cuts, but necessary lot of infrastructure and cuts." support systems that are hard "This is a difficult but to recover." financially responsible Markell proposed eliminating budget," Markell said. the Board of Parole and Markell said the reductions consolidating its function were necessary to counter into the Department of $106.9 million in increased Correction to save $529,000. costs for Medicaid, the The same proposal went health insurance program for nowhere in the Legislature 194,000 Delawareans who are last year. poor, disabled or living in Markell also wants to make nursing homes. school districts use local Even with cuts, the tax dollars to cover 10 Department of Health and percent of transportation Social Services budget would costs. Currently, the state increase $62.6 million to covers the entire cost of handle additional demand. transporting students to Markell has called on the school. Markell's budget General Assembly to rein in would cut school bus funding employee health insurance and by $7.13 million for the pension costs and the state's 19 school districts. ballooning cost of Medicaid, Charter schools would see which is largely free to their bus funding drop by recipients. $500,000. "We've got to focus in a On the classroom end, Markell serious way on some of these proposes spending an extra $6. costs which are growing so 7 million to hire 100 new quickly, including Medicaid, teachers to handle growth. including taxpayer His plan calls for an contributions for pensions," additional $2.1 million to Markell said. implement full-day (2 of 3) kindergarten in the Christina Markell's budget contains no and Milford school districts specific plan for controlling and $7.5 million for Medicaid costs, yet budgets contractual salary step $5 million in savings. increases for teachers and Some changes, such as adding paraprofessionals. co-pays or limiting coverage, The budget contains no across- could take a year to the-board pay raises for implement and necessitate state workers. Last year, approval from the federal lawmakers restored a 2.5 government, providing little percent pay cut state workers short-term budget relief, took in 2009. said DHSS Secretary Rita The University of Delaware, Landgraf. Delaware State University and Markell has said he wants Delaware Technical & lawmakers to pass reforms to Community College would share state employee health a $6.52 million reduction in insurance and pensions that their annual appropriations. save $100 million over the Under the governor's budget, next five years. Yet his the Bond Bill would increase proposed budget banks on only from $389.7 million to $420.5 $3.2 million of savings in million for capital the first year. improvement and "It doesn't really hit the transportation projects. Richter scale," said House Markell used $41.5 million in Minority Leader Greg Lavelle, cash that normally goes into R-Sharpley. "The work still the Bond Bill to balance the has to be done. Don't put operating budget. away the shovels." The governor's budget Under Markell's 2012 budget proposal also assumes a $75.8 plan, 55 casual and seasonal million increase in tax workers in DHSS would be laid revenue in 2012 from the off to save $2.34 million. If current fiscal year, approved by lawmakers, it according to the Office of would be the first pink slips Management and Budget. Markell will issue since Unlike 34 other states, becoming governor in 2009. Delaware saved about $82.7 The jobs are largely million in federal stimulus temporary employees in state funds from the current fiscal health facilities who have year to apply to the 2012 been kept on but do not budget, Visalli said. receive benefits, Landgraf Schools districts will get said. $27.4 million of leftover Landgraf said the jobs will stimulus funds, while the be eliminated as the remaining $55.3 million will department moves mentally be mostly eaten up by a rare disabled adults from 27th payday the state has to institutional care at the account for next year, Delaware Psychiatric Center Markell said. to community-based housing, It only happens every 11 which will save more money years, but a 27th biweekly over time. payday will fall within the "We see them as a 2012 fiscal year from July 1 supplemental support, not as to June 30, 2012, adding a a necessity," Landgraf said. $54.8 million expense to the The governor followed the budget, Visalli said. recommendation of DHSS and "Last year, we balanced the proposed cutting $3 million budget with the money we had, in cash assistance for adults not the money we hoped for," who are unemployable, Markell said. destitute and often homeless.
Tags: around, budget, cuts, Delaware, Jack, Markell, spreads
