Panel: CT could reap big savings with more competitive bidding

"Leaders of nonprofits run tight ships,” said Gian-Carl Casa, president and CEO of the state’s largest coalition of nonprofit social service groups, the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance. “It’s well-established that providing services through nonprofits means quality services at lower costs than when the state provides the services.”

Both public- and private-sector reports have recommended that the state privatize even more social services to cut state costs.

“Nonprofits are operating on slim margins; many have closed or reduced programs and laid off staff,” Casa said, adding that the average annual cost-of-living adjustment to nonprofits’ contracts with the state over the last 25 years is less than one-half of 1 percent. “Further, many contracts that go to nonprofits require that unspent funds are returned to the state.

“Nonprofits are the way by which the state can deliver quality services, with maximum efficiency. They’re part of the solution to state budget problems.”