APD > Media Advisory

Governor's Budget Proposal Supports People with Disabilities

Tallahassee - Jim DeBeaugrine, Director for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), today announced some highlights included in the Fiscal Year 2010-11 budget recommended by Florida Governor Charlie Crist. This proposed budget will allow Florida's most vulnerable citizens to continue to receive services in their community. APD serves about 35,000 people with developmental disabilities each year helping them to participate in activities like going to work or learning life skills.

Governor Crist is proposing $1.16 billion for APD's budget for Fiscal Year 2010-11. The agency's budget was $1.08 billion in Fiscal Year 2009-10 and $1.06 billion in Fiscal Year 2008-09.

Some of the main APD budget recommendations are:

• $3 million to add dental services to Tier 4 of the Home and Community Based Services Waiver. Currently, customers on Tier 4 cannot receive dental services through the waiver.
• $12.7 million to serve people on the waiver waiting list.
• An additional $100 million for the Medicaid waiver to eliminate the projected deficit over the current and upcoming fiscal years due to delays in fully implementing the tier waiver system.

Director DeBeaugrine said, "The state of Florida has a duty to help its most vulnerable citizens. These budget recommendations will assist the Agency for Persons with Disabilities with continuing its good work on behalf of Floridians with disabilities. Additionally, by eliminating the APD deficit that keeps rolling forward each year, we will help ensure the agency will be able to serve individuals in the future."

"We appreciate the governor's support of APD and the people we serve. These budget recommendations will make a difference in the lives of thousands of people with developmental disabilities in our state. I look forward to working with Governor Crist and legislators to move these new recommendations into action," said DeBeaugrine.

For additional details on the Governor's recommended Fiscal Year 2010-11budget, visit www.MyFlorida.com and click on "The People's Budget," or visit www.ThePeoplesBudget.state.fl.us.

The agency annually serves about 35,000 Floridians with developmental disabilities of mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and Prader-Willi syndrome. For more information on the agency, call 1-866-APD-CARES or visit www.APDCares.org.