Lutheran Social Services of Wichita, contracted with the State Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services in 1996 to find families to adopt foster children. Those payments still weren t enough. The agency asked its subcontractors to accept a portion of what was owed to them to keep LSS in business. Most have agreed to do so. The state shouldn t cave in too.
Some legislators believe the state has an obligation to pay the agency s subcontractors.
The state has no such obligation. Just because an agency has contracted with the state, it should have no expectation to receive any more payment than what it has contracted to pay. Any additional payments would set a very bad precedent. Having a contract with the state shouldn't mean it is a green light for the agency to operate without regard for its contract and budget. Graves said in an earlier report that subcontractors are not as financially strapped as the public has been led to believe.