Here's another example of South Dakota's mixed-up budget priorities. On Tuesday, Governor Dennis Daugaard signed House Bill 1247, which appropriates $500,000 for property and sales tax refunds for low-income elderly and disabled folks. To qualify for a property tax refund, a single-member household has to make less than $10,250. A multiple-member household has to make less than $13,250.
Now HB 1247 seems like a perfectly fair appropriation to help our neighbors who are having a hard time. So what's there to complain about?
- The Governor cut this program 16.7% from last year's appropriation and 37.5% from the 2008 level.
- The income thresholds are actually below the federal poverty level. Grandma and Grandpa can be in poverty, but our state will say they don't deserve assistance under this refund program.
- The program is helping just 2400 households in South Dakota this fiscal year. In 1996, we helped 5700 households with $1.2 million in relief. Our FY2011 budget is $1.16 billion. Our FY 1996 budget was $620 million. In other words, while our total general fund has nearly doubled, our commitment to tax relief for the elderly and disabled has diminished by half.
I'm hearing that line again, something about how we treat the least among us....
Total moral failure. This certainly won't help our poverty issues.
But it's perfectly okay to provide more money for the poor, struggling, tourism industry!
Don't forget the bucks going to the pipeline. Or corporations.
I'm guessing none of those people who were affected took the effort or time (or 20% of their monthly income) to hitch hike to Pierre to testify. Of course it's almost impossible to hitch hike with a wheel chair. It's no wonder it passed so easily.
So government wants to oppress the poor, sick, elderly and disabled? Good luck. Here's a reality check government officials: we placed our severely autistic son in a state run group home for 4 years. Within that 4 years, he became malnoursished, suffered numerous self abusive blows to his head and face, had to be hospitilizled and then sent HOME because state officals told us, "there is no place that can handle your autistic son." SO, we have him back home. And the thanks we get for taking him back, though he's over 18, and we don't have to, is we get CUTS to the very funds keeping him SAFE and thriving in home for half the cost it kept to keep him in an out of home placement that couldnt' help or protect him. Now that's what I call insanity. Solution: create new laws tax codes, etc..for families WILLING to take their loved ones BACK home, so we can keep them safe and out of MORE costly ineffective out of home placments. DUH. It's that simple. OUr son was estimated to cost california about 1 milllion a year when placed at Fairview Developmental Center, due to his 2 to 1 staffing needs 24 hours a day. He's self injurious and has seizures. He requires constant round the clock protective supervision requiring 2 -3 staff to protect him when he's punching himself in the face and head. So, go ahead Jerry Brown and all you myopic self-righteous fools who think you're doing a great thing by "cutting services for in home suupports." My God how ignorant could you possibly be? Apparently, you have NO flipping CLUE how this world ooperates outside your sheltered bubble. For the love of God do the right thing. Ensure that parents who are taking on the incredible burden of keeping adult children with disablities at HOME receive the adequate supports needed to keep these kids safe adn free from the abuse, neglect and mismanagement documented in 100's of news media reports about placing them in out of home placments to the tune of 50% more than keeping them home.