Alliance Note: As budget negotiations continue, the latest reports indicate that the flexible 3.2% COLA advocates and human services agencies have been calling for may not make it in the final budget. We must do all we can to get this needed funding to support agencies and the workforce that is critical to providing support to New Yorkers with mental health, substance use, and trauma related challenges!
While we were pleased the legislature increased the Governor’s proposed 1.5% COLA to 3.2%, the legislature’s language for the COLA placed restrictions on this funding which will make it impossible for agencies to use this needed funding to keep up with rising costs associated with critical service delivery. Agencies are struggling to keep up with costs which have drastically increased due to inflation. We must also increase pay for our workers. The 3.2% COLA is meant to pay for both infrastructure and workforce needs, which are equally critical to agencies continuing to provide needed services.
The proposed restrictions were meant to increase director worker pay but fail to improve pay for many frontline workers who are just as essential to the provision of services.
Use the information below to make two calls to the state’s legislative leaders demanding they support a full flexible COLA today! We need everyone to join us to ensure the legislature finally hears us! See last week’s powerful OP ED from Sebrina Barrett, Executive Director of the Association for Community Living (ACL)!
Commentary: Proposed Cost-of-Living Adjustments don’t Go Nearly Far Enough
By Sebrina Barrett | Times Union | April 11, 2024
COLA must allow New York service providers to boost workers’ pay and cover operating expenses.
Everyone is feeling the pinch as costs of living increase. If you own a home or a car, if you have a family, or even if you live alone, you too feel the effects of increased gas prices, insurance rates, groceries and utilities.
Now imagine operating a home that houses people experiencing mental health challenges — this is their home. But you have to pay for everything. And pay the staff to run it.
I represent more than 100 members who provide housing and care for over 40,000 vulnerable individuals living with mental illness in New York. Historically, we’ve experienced decades of significant underfunding. In recent years, the state has shown us some support, but it hasn’t been enough to let us catch up as inflation continues to rise. And this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed 1.5% cost of living adjustment and the Legislature’s proposed 3.2% targeted COLA put us at risk of falling further behind.
When the COLA was created, it was intended to cover the rising costs of living — all the things providers pay — and to include both wages and operations. The Legislature’s 3.2% proposal covers only salaries and omits funds to help with the rising costs of operating mental health housing. And the governor’s 1.5% proposal isn’t nearly enough for either.
We can’t survive only on funding allocated to our staff’s salaries; if we don’t cover operating costs, we won’t be able to keep our providers’ doors open, let alone pay for rising employee health insurance.
We need the Legislature and the governor to include a 3.2% across-the-board COLA in the state budget to both absorb rising costs and pay a living wage to our workforce.
Our members’ staff are truly the backbone of what we do. Their work is essential, and they deserve a living wage. But we can’t pay them more and cover mandatory costs of operating. Our state contract rates include both, and the COLA must address both.
Sebrina Barrett is executive director of the Association for Community Living.
Proposed cost-of-living adjustments don’t go nearly far enough (timesunion.com)