Disability funding could be cut during 2026 legislative session

SALT LAKE CITY — State appropriation committees are looking through a list of potential budget cuts that could include cutting disability services by as much as 10% which in turn could cut provider wages.

Currently, those wages range between $15 and $18 an hour. After the cuts, they could be reduced to $12 per hour.

Disability advocates say this would be a devastating loss, leaving many without essential services. 

A report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute found that in 2024, up to a quarter of Utahns had a disability.

Executive Director of Utah’s Association of Community Services Nancy Strahan said there is no way to reach the required amount of cuts without directly impacting the state’s most vulnerable population.

The potential cuts aren’t an option. Committees were asked to make 5% budget cuts due to a loss of federal funding in 2026.

Right now, Rep. Ray Ward, R-Bountiful, said they are looking at all possible areas to cut in a year where budgeting is a little more difficult.

According to Ward, as of Thursday, the list contained at least 120 areas that could potentially be cut. But not all on the list would be included in the final cuts.

Ward said he would prefer to make no cuts to disability services and right now they are only looking at options.

“I feel confident that the worst things on that list are not going to be cut. But I really hope that, at least for disability services, I hope that none of those things get cut,” Ward said.

“I mean, where there’s inefficiencies … then there needs to be a cut to make it more efficient. But where something is just providing a basic service, where that should be the state’s obligation to help those folks who cannot help themselves, then for those things, I hope they don’t get cut.”

Utah Parents Center Executive Director Joey Hanna admits that one potential cut could be wages earned by those in the disability field. If that happened, Hanna said it could spell disaster for many with disabilities who currently are in group homes or living with aging parents.

“A cut like this or continued underfunding to this system is just moving people more back towards institutions,” Hanna said.  “If you think about it, we have so many aging parents right now, so many baby boomers that have kids with disabilities … who’s going to take care of them when they pass? If they don’t have siblings that are set up to do so, then the natural consequence or the natural evolution is … people are likely to end up in institutions.”

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