RCo seeks county help after state rate cuts

Rock County Opportunities Director Beth Bartels is asking for community support to lobby against a proposed rate change by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Bartels brought the issue to Rock County Commissioners Sept. 6 after state officials were not able to assist in lobbying to stop the change in funding.
The local day training and habilitation center in Luverne, along with other agencies that use home- and community-based services dollars, could see a $20 million reduction to the disability waiver rate system, the primary funding source for many facilities like RCO.
For RCO the decrease in state funds could lead to the program’s demise.
“With rates going down, it’s hard to keep the doors open if you run in the red all the time,” Bartels said.
Without a local center it’s impossible to know exactly what would happen but one possibility is that current clients would just stay at home, she added.
RCO currently helps 49 adults with developmental and related disabilities to find and maintain employment in the community or at their center on West Main Street.
Bartels said she needs and welcomes ideas from the community to keep the state funding at current levels or options for alternative revenue.
“Our program is working as it is and we don't want it shut down,” she said.
RCO has 67 employees including 18 staff members.