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Governor’s Proposed Budget Unveiled for FY26/27

Governor Josh Shapiro unveiled his third budget proposal of his administration last week. While many details have yet to be provided by administration officials, the following summarizes key disability programs:
 

• Zero percent increase for rates paid for Intellectual Disability and Autism (ID/A) services to offset annual cost increases and inflation.
• Zero new funding to address the statewide waiting list for ID/A services.
• $5 million in new funds for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (10.3% increase) - OVR is the state agency that assists people with disabilities with getting and keeping jobs.
• $40 million in new funds that go to local school districts for special education (2.7% increase).
• $10 million for a rate increase for the Infants and Toddlers Early Intervention program (it remains unclear what percentage increase this amounts to, but preliminary estimates suggest 5.2%).
• New funding for direct care workers in the Community HealthChoices program (details about this initiative are very limited at this time).

The normal process for state budgets is that the Governor proposes a budget in February and the General Assembly passes a budget for the Governor’s signature before July 1st, when the new state fiscal year commences. Legislative hearings will start in coming weeks.

Advocates for ID/A services are disappointed in the Governor’s proposed budget and hope the legislature will add funding to 1) reduce the waiting list for people with ID/A, and 2) offset inflation in the cost of providing services so service capacity can be maintained.