The Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers applauds Governor Evers, and his vision for the 2025 State Budget. The inclusion of an increase for Wisconsin’s Independent Living Centers (ILCs) has been long overdue, but falls short of the amount necessary to bring our ILCs to an appropriate base funding level. As Wisconsin’s leading disability led, cross disability organizations, an adequate increase in state funding will allow Centers to close the wage gap for people with disabilities who work in Centers, and it will also allow centers to target funding to the most underserved rural communities for the first time in our history. Wisconsin’s Independent Living Centers look forward to engaging the State Legislature to ensure the increase is sufficient to achieve this.
WCILC also applauds the investments in support of expanding ABLE accounts will allow Wisconsin residents to save for their future independence without being penalized. This step will ensure that the expansion of ABLE accounts are a viable option for Wisconsin residents.
While we value the steps taken in this budget there is still much work to be done in order to ensure that Wisconsin’s residents with disabilities are able to live independently in the setting of their choice. In addition to ensuring that base funding levels provide consistent high quality independent living services throughout the state of Wisconsin, we feel the need to stress the impact that actions at the federal level may have on our Medicaid System.
WCILC asks that the legislature work to preserve the critical Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) we have. Medicaid funds almost all long-term care, including programs that keep kids, people with disabilities, and older adults out of expensive Medicaid-funded nursing homes and institutions. Reducing HCBS investments will increase costs to Medicaid, and reduce the individual freedom we should all have to live in our communities.
We ask the legislature to share in the commitment to preserving Medicaid-funded Home and Community Based Services, in addition to more robust support our Independent Living Centers that assist people to realize and maintain their independence.
