On July 1, 2016, the state minimum wage (upon which Developmental Disabilities Provider Agency funding is based), increased to $8.75 per hour. When legislation was passed in 2014 by the Maryland General Assembly, the state agreed to keep developmental disability funding rates at a percentage above the state minimum wage to ensure we could recruit and retain qualified direct support professionals to provide this important work.
In 2014, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties increased their county minimum wages to a rate that is much higher than the state minimum wage. The Montgomery County elected leaders recognized that state funding alone was not enough to address the gap between the state minimum wage and the higher county minimum wage. They agreed to allocate supplemental funding to Montgomery County providers to ensure that direct support professionals do not become minimum wage workers.
Unfortunately, Prince George's County has continued to fail to address this gap, and this year, state funding will be insufficient to cover the costs in that county related to direct support wages, insurance and other necessary operating costs.
Now Baltimore City is looking to raise its minimum wage over that of the state, and in doing so risks making the same mistake of failing to fully consider the effect this action would have on services for people with developmental disabilities in the city ("City Council president says Baltimore can't afford $15 minimum wage," July 21).
Unlike other businesses, developmental disability providers cannot make up deficits caused by wage expenditures by raising prices. Our funding allocations are set by the state based on the state's minimum wage. We also cannot cut services; we have regulations and mandates outlining the services we must provide. Any local jurisdiction that raises its local minimum wage must appropriately address the funding shortfall to prevent a crisis.
We believe local elected officials have a responsibility to protect their citizens with disabilities and the many hardworking staff who care for them on a daily basis.
If a local government fails its most vulnerable citizens, it fails all of its citizens.
Ande Kolp, Lanham
The writer is chair of the Prince George's Provider Council, a coalition of 27 agencies that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.