Counties, families warn governor's budget cuts to disability waivers would shift costs and shrink services

Saint Paul — Parents, disability providers and county officials told the Minnesota Senate Human Services Committee on Tuesday that elements of Gov. Tim Walz’s proposed budget would shrink access to disability waiver services, destabilize a fragile provider workforce and transfer large costs to counties and local taxpayers.

Advocates and county leaders testified that several provisions in the governor’s human services proposal — including capping scheduled inflationary increases, limiting certain billing rules and imposing a new county cost share — would make it harder for people with disabilities to get services they now receive and for providers to remain solvent.

“The governor's policy and budget proposals for autism … have failed again the autism community,” said Bridal Abdul, who identified herself as a Somali autism parent and advocate. “Train families, train providers and hold everybody accountable.”

Why it matters: Disability waivers fund home- and community-based services that many Minnesotans with disabilities rely on for daily supports, therapy and respite care. Witnesses said cutting those funds or shifting them to counties could force providers to reduce services, leave rural areas and raise local property taxes to cover the gap.

What speakers said - Anissa Haji Mohammed, board chair of Mongad Voices, told the committee the governor’s proposal to cut waivered services — which she said would eliminate $1.2 billion over multiple years — treats waiver programs as discretionary rather…