By KALEY LYON

klyon@dailynews.net

One week after the legislative budget session came to a close, and a bill allocating funding for the fiscal year was passed, some service providers throughout the state already are waiting for next year.

Developmental disability service providers such as Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas are included in the wait. In fall 2006, the Legislature drafted a recommendation calling for an additional $70 million to fund developmental disability services for the next three years.

By the time the legislative session came to a close, less than $6 million was allocated to these services -- about a third of the originally proposed $15 million to be allocated this year.

In addition to less money being provided, the provision for multi-year funding stipulated in HB 2761 and SB 365 was eliminated.

"It's about real people, real lives," said Jerry Michaud, president of DSNWK. "That's what it's about. And yet the people who are least able to afford this are the ones who have to shoulder it."

On a local level, DSNWK ended up with a budget increase of less than 2 percent. While the organization is grateful to have received the increase, it simply isn't enough, Michaud said.

With increasing fuel costs and a large coverage area, it will be difficult to cover the increasing costs of service provision, Michaud said.

Another challenge the organization has been facing for several years is being able to provide its caregivers with adequate living wages, he said.

"The private sector wage continues to go up ... and it doesn't make the challenge of getting from where we are to where we ought to be any easier," Michaud said. "The last thing we want to see is a change in services to people, but we are also faced with the reality that, from a financial perspective, you can only stretch a dollar so far."

Because the wages DSNWK is able to offer are often lower than private sector wages, it is difficult to retain employees. This is especially frustrating when many of the organization's clients are individuals who do not always adapt to change well, Michaud said.

In addition to the moneys needed to boost wages, another difficulty is the fact thousands of individuals statewide are waiting for services like those provided by DSNWK, and are unable to serve them because of financial restrictions.

To symbolize the long wait of these individuals, developmental services lobbying groups organized a "push day" at the end of April. About 850 individuals filled the state capitol to remind their representatives that the requested funding could make a difference in many lives, Michaud said.

"We continue with the need in our community, and we wait for adequate rates so we can pay a living wage to our staff," he said. "And once again, you end the session waiting."

Push day wasn't the only effort DSNWK participated in. Endeavors to gain support and boost awareness began years ago and included an employee rally at the beginning of the legislative session and a petition of 6,000 signatures presented to the government last session.

A bus tour of state representatives also toured DSNWK and heard from concerned clients and employees last fall.

Looking back, the organization is pleased with the endeavors and remains hopeful this voice was heard in Topeka, he said.

"As I look back on this session and our advocacy work ... I can look back without regret," Michaud said. "I am proud of what we've been able to do ... Even up to last week, I was hopeful that the voice would finally be heard. And I want to believe that our legislators heard us."

In the meantime, DSNWK is evaluating these financial implications, and will carry on with the same mission and vigor as always. They also will continue to raise awareness and hope for a change, he said.

"My father always told me, if you get knocked down or you fall, you get back up," he said. "We are committed and remain committed to the people we support. Our mission is our guide. ... We're trying to help them accomplish in their lives full inclusion and being valued members of every community."

Some legislators also were disappointed by the political chain of events that resulted in the stripped multi-year funding proposal. Rep. Eber Phelps, D-Hays, said the funding is needed to help care providers continue to provide necessary services.

"It would help them continue to provide a service, especially in paying their care providers that are out there in the field," Phelps said. "I was really disappointed with that because that's been an issue with them for several years.

"The people in those positions provide invaluable care for us, for the people that they deal with," he said.

The proposal initially cleared the house by a large majority, then went to conference committee discussion where the bulk of the funding was stripped from the bill. The revised provision then resurfaced in the omnibus appropriations bill, which passed last Wednesday before the session was adjourned, he said.

Phelps voted against the bill for several reasons -- the lack of funding for developmental disabilities was one provision he did not agree with, he said.

"There's also the waiting list ... for developmental disabilities, that's a growing number," Phelps said. "To me, that's really something that we should have addressed this session."

Phelps also noted small, irregular increases will not be enough to offset the growing need, and encouraged DSNWK and similar organizations to continue their efforts.

"I would hope that these folks would continue their efforts to try to wake people up as to the needs that were missed this time, and are still going to be there," he said. "It's really a traumatic thing for them to have their hopes set so high and a lot of momentum going into the session, and to have their hopes set so high even to the last day. I really feel for the disappointment they must feel."