It’s going to get tougher for 1,100 people with physical disabilities served by Independence Inc. to live at home.

The Lawrence organization dedicated to keeping people with disabilities in the community and out of institutions is preparing to lay off eight of its 31 staffers to deal with a $350,000 reduction in state financing.

“It’s more than trickle-down,” Robert LeGresley, executive director, said Thursday of the budget cuts. “It’s like a flood.”

Gov. Bill Graves ordered most state agencies to reduce spending by 3.9 percent to head off a projected $312 million deficit in the state’s current budget year, which ends June 30. Individual state agencies passed the cuts on to dozens of organizations across Kansas.

LeGresley said Independence Inc. had to cut 27 percent of its $1.3 million annual budget. Independence Inc.’s share of the cuts was greater than for some agencies because it’s a recipient of funding from the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services as well as the Kansas Department on Aging.

As expected, LeGresley said, SRS reduced the hourly rate it pays Independence Inc. to compensate workers caring for disabled clients. That cost the organization $57,000 on an annual basis.

The real shocker was the move by the Department on Aging to slash $264,000 in reimbursements for care provided to frail elderly people through Independence Inc., LeGresley said.

“What is so frustrating (is) that was a reduction that the Department of Aging was not required to take as a result of the governor’s decreases,” LeGresley said.

Jim Spitzer, far right, instructs a computer class at Independence Inc. State budget cuts are forcing the agency, which helps people with disabilities to stay out of institutions, to lay off eight full-time workers. In Thursday's class, from left, are Stanley Roberts, Chris Stout and Mike Leipzig, all of Lawrence.

Bob Mikesic, who is in charge of client advocacy at Independence Inc., said eliminating staff would make it difficult for the agency to serve its core clients in Douglas, Jefferson and Franklin counties. Independence Inc. provides assisted-living technology in 13 northeast Kansas counties.

“It’s going to be a challenge, of course, to keep up with the requests for services that come in. We’re determined to do the best we can,” he said.

Layoffs at Independence Inc. take effect Jan. 10. There are 31 full-time equivalent staffers, but the funding reduction will force elimination of eight full-time equivalent positions.

Dropping from the staff roster will be Independence Inc.’s education rights advocate, the supervisor of independent-living skills, an independent-living outreach worker and a group of staff counselors.

“The reality of it is that there are going to be people falling through the cracks,” LeGresley said.

He said operating expenses at Independence Inc. were pared by $60,000 to help mitigate damage of the state funding rollback. Independence Inc. also will try to rent a portion of its office building at 2001 Haskell to generate revenue.

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