Pending cuts in state spending will cost programs run by UJA-Federation agencies between $25 million and $30 million, according to an estimate by the organization this week.
The mid-year cuts would be in addition to a $15 million loss in program funds already implemented earlier this year as Gov. David Paterson came to grips with a soaring deficit. Overall, the cuts could amount to about 3 percent of the overall income for programs helping immigrants, the poor, elderly and disabled and others.
And there will likely be even more bad news in next year’s budget, which will be released in December and approved in January.
“The agencies that are hit the hardest are Met Council [on Jewish Poverty] and the local community councils,” said Ron Soloway, managing director for governmental relations at UJA-Federation. “In the second phase, the agencies hardest hit will be nursing homes, home care and aging agencies.
“In addition, the governor has proposed very significant cuts to reimbursement of our nursing home agencies, which will definitely have an impact on the quality of care,” said Soloway.
Soloway said that while UJA-Federation recognizes that cuts have to be made, “we are nevertheless concerned about the communities we will not be able to serve.”
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