Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee made pivotal decisions, restoring $292 million to the DDA budget, approving a 1% rate increase for community services ($28.7 million), and allocating $37 million for expansion funding to support transitioning youth and individuals in crisis. This complements the $429 million restored to the FY25 budget and an additional $283 million to address unexpected deficits in the DDA budget. As we await the Senate's decisions, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Chairman Ben Barnes, Sub-Committee Chair Emily Shetty, Health and Government Operations Committee Chair Joseline Peña-Melnyk, and all our advocates in the House of Delegates.
A big thank you to the members of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition, including The Arc Maryland, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, People On The Go Maryland, and Disability Rights Maryland. This coalition has worked hard to get funding restored, advocating alongside people with developmental disabilities, their families, and community providers. MACS is proud to be part of this dedicated group and appreciates the ongoing partnership.