A central California nonprofit group that serves nearly 15,000 developmentally disabled people has come under fire for using a $500,000 budget surplus to give bonuses to its 350 employees, reports the Associated Press.

Critics, including advocates for the disabled and the majority leader of the state Senate, say the bonuses paid by the Central Valley Regional Center are inappropriate when California is slashing spending on social-service organizations.

Robert Riddick, the center’s director, said the charity’s board felt the one-time payments, which averaged about $1,400 per worker, were warranted because the organization had successfully lowered costs without compromising client services and employees are facing higher health-care costs and uncertainty about the future.