Metro Meals on Wheels' Executive Director, Pat Rowan, gave testimony to both the MN Senate's Health & Human Services Budget Committee and the MN House's Health Care & Human Services Finance Committee at public hearings on the Governor's proposed budget.

Excerpt: 

"The governor's proposed budget cuts of 2.5% of waiveres services will have a significant effect on[Meals on Wheels] programs' ability to provide quality service. As you know, these cuts come on top of 2.58% cuts last year and depend on $387 million in FMAP funding that is unlikely to come before the MN legislature will have to pass a budget. HHS alone cannot absorb another $387 in cuts or many of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our communities will go without vital services.

MMOW supports a balanced approach to meeting the demans of the current budget deficit. Cuts that focus primarily on services to the elderly, sick and poor will cost the state in the long run. Other aspects of state funding need to help shoulder the burden and revenue generation must be part of the equation."

Read the full testimony.