It’s early in Arizona’s legislative session, but local businesses that provide care to those with developmental disabilities are already making their voices heard. On Tuesday, representatives of the industry, their clients and advocates called on lawmakers to push for more funding in the state budget.

For low-wage employees, Proposition 206 was a welcome raise. It boosted the minimum wage to $10 an hour this year and to $12 by 2020. But for the hundreds of businesses that care for those with developmental disabilities, this could be the last financial blow, after years of tight budgeting. Many cannot afford to pay their employees more and are cutting services or closing down.

Susan Bastian, CEO of the Blythe Center in Peoria, told lawmakers her business, with its hundreds of clients and employees, is shutting down.

“I would personally take out a loan if I thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I would borrow money from wherever to keep going, but we are not even a thought in the 2018 budget so far,” Bastian said.

Gov. Doug Ducey earlier this month announced an emergency multi-million dollar infusion of cash for these providers, but many who testified say that will not cover long-term costs. While the minimum-wage hike doesn’t affect government employees, it does contractors who are reimbursed by the state for their services.