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Council signs on to stakeholder letter urging reconsideration of proposed DDA cuts
Summary
Council joined a multi-county stakeholder letter asking state lawmakers to reconsider proposed FY26 cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration, including elimination of the geographical rate differential that helps Montgomery County providers.
Montgomery County Council voted Feb. 24 to sign on to a draft stakeholder letter urging the state to reconsider proposed cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) in the governor's FY26 budget.
Leslie Fry, legislative analyst with the county Department of Health and Human Services, told the Council the governor initially proposed $197 million in FY25 cuts that were largely restored but that the FY26 budget proposal includes roughly $450 million in reductions. "One of those cuts directly affects providers in Montgomery County. It's called the geographical rate differential," Fry said, describing the differential that reimburses county providers at a higher rate to reflect higher local costs.
Staff said they have coordinated with the four other affected counties and drafted a letter asking the DDA and legislators to reconsider or mitigate the change. Council Member Albanese moved the Council sign onto the stakeholder letter and Council Member Friedson seconded; the Council voted in favor and the President confirmed the county would sign on.
Why it matters: elimination of the geographic rate differential would reduce reimbursements to local DDA providers and could affect service capacity in Montgomery County. Council asked staff to continue coordination with other counties and report back to the Council on subsequent state actions.
