January 17th, 2025
The enacted 2024/2025 New York State Budget contained a provision for the establishment of a 2.84 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to be effective April 1, 2024. As you may know, the approved 24/25 NYS budget included a 2.84% COLA for OPWDD providers. Inclusive of the legislative language, there was a mandate that all eligible employees would receive a minimum 1.7 percent increase. We are happy to report that 100 percent of the dollars generated by the COLA received have been reinvested into our employees as salary enhancements with the majority of the funding going to our front line workers. In addition, as previously stated, all eligible positions received a wage enhancement, all exceeding the minimum 1.7 percent requirement.
Our workforce is our number one priority and we will continue to fight for a wage that is commensurate with the challenging yet rewarding work that is performed to support those we have the privilege to care for.
Respectfully,
Paula Jubic, Executive Director