Statement from Gian-Carl Casa, President & CEO of CT Community Nonprofit Alliance, on the budget expected to be approved today by the legislature:
“The state budget adjustments headed for approval in the House and Senate preserve a much-needed funding increase for community nonprofit providers that was approved in last year’s biennial budget and will continue to address long term underfunding for vital programs that serve tens of thousands of Connecticut residents.
“Nonprofits, the state’s safety net, contract with the state to provide wide range of human services, including mental health and substance abuse treatment, day and residential programs for people with developmental disabilities, homeless shelters and food pantries.
“While recent finding increases have been welcomed, programs remain 30 percent behind inflation. The federal government’s chaotic retreat from its traditional responsibilities has only added financial pressure as community providers try to make ends meet. Connecticut continues to bring in more in tax receipts than is needed to balance the state budget. In these critical times, we continue to advocate for stronger, sustained support to safety net programs.
“On behalf of thousands of people across the state who rely on nonprofit services, we thank lawmakers for supporting this year’s funding, we look forward to the Governor signing the budget, and we urge them to continue to increase funding for nonprofits in the coming years.”
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