Standing with Cuomo on minimum wage, nonprofits need him to stand with us

As nonprofits responsible for the care of some 128,000 New Yorkers with autism, serious brain injury, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities, we are perplexed at our state’s budgetary plans for ensuring the continuity of these vital services — particularly in light of the proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

We support paying our workers more, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal provides none of the funding necessary to accomplish that worthy goal. More than 90 percent of our funding comes from Medicaid and other state contracts. Eighty percent of our total budgets go to worker salaries.

The math is not good. If New York mandates we raise worker pay but fails to provide the resources, we are left with no good options, and certainly zero options that allow us to continue helping these vulnerable New Yorkers live with dignity and bring comfort to their families.

For us, it’s not just the lowest earners. We already pay many employees above – but not far above – the minimum wage because of their added responsibilities and seniority. For the sake of equity and fairness, a minimum wage increase will also compel a raise for these workers who are still considered low-wage workers.

Given our funding structure – rates set and payment provided by government – what are we to do? Unlike the fast food industry, we have no hamburgers whose price we can increase.

And as nonprofits, we see no benefit from the small-business tax cut the governor has proposed to balance the impact of the minimum wage increase.

Last Friday saw a tremendous outpouring of support for our direct care workers and the people they serve. At rallies in Buffalo, Rochester, Long Island and outside the governor’s office in Manhattan, thousands of us respectfully made our case for Albany to #bFair2DirectCare.

Time is short and budget decisions are being made in Albany that will dramatically affect the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. Just as businesses will have to adjust the prices they charge to customers, we are asking for a price increase for the essential services we provide from our customer – New York state.

As it is, the current wage increase already approved for fast food workers will have an impact on our ability to hire and retain employees. Direct service to people with developmental disabilities is not easy work. Turnover is high and competition for good workers can be fierce.

At The Arc’s Oneida-Lewis chapter, vacancy rates have tripled in recent years as job opportunities and wages in other sectors have grown. CEO Karen Korotzer says her organization is already in crisis when it comes to hiring and retaining staff.

“If I were a direct support staff with a family and I was trying to make ends meet, I might look at the restaurant job,” Korotzer told a reporter. “People already felt underpaid and overworked, and then to hear other industries have been targeted for an increase — it really made people here who have worked here for a long time, it just made them feel less than everyone else,” she said. “If anybody should be looked at for a $15 minimum wage, it should be the employees here.”

Ms. Korotzer is far from alone. It’s on the state’s behalf that we provide services, saving the state from running far more costly programs to support those with developmental disabilities. Gov. Cuomo’s Drive for $15 is admirable, but he can’t leave these direct care workers and the vulnerable New Yorkers they serve at the curb.

We stand with Gov. Cuomo. Now we need him to stand with us.

Michael Seereiter is the President and CEO of the New York State Rehabilitation Association and a member of the #bFair2DirectCare coalition.