The Arc of Philadelphia supports the state-wide effort to protect Community Based Services for people with developmental disabilities. Already this year, the PA Department of Public Welfare has cut funding for 464 individuals slated to finally get off the emergency waiting list for community services and has cut over $1 million from the "money-follows-the-person" initiative which would have helped 30 individuals get out of state institutions so they could return to their communities with supports and services. These cuts are part of government-wide budget reductions being imposed due to lower-than-expected tax revenues resulting from a slowing economy. On November 19th, Governor Rendell announced yet another round of state government budget cuts are being planned. DPW has said that cuts to the Waiting List initiative are not off the table. When it comes to budget cuts, The Arc of PA believes that funding for community-based services should be off limits since serving Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities is a core responsibility of state government. Budget making is about establishing priorities and protecting those priorities. Members of The Arc are urged to communicate with their state reps and senators and Governor Rendell to insist that state government prioritize and protect community-based services from further budget cuts.