LJWorld.com / Leaders plead against drastic cuts

Archive for Thursday, July 10, 2008

July 10, 2008

County agrees to support bioscience project (07-10-08)

Representatives of county-funded agencies and programs are asking Douglas County commissioners for leniency when budget decisions are made during the next few days.

"If you are going to cut us, cut us a little," said Ron Stegall, referring to the district court's Community Service Work program, which he supervises along with Douglas County Community Corrections. Stegall was one of several department heads who met with commissioners during a second day of budget talks this week.

The Community Service Work program matches offenders assigned to it by the court to do community service as part of their sentences. That meant 16,000 hours in 2007 of unpaid labor to local social service agencies, Stegall said.

CSW funding is split by the county and the city of Lawrence. County Administrator Craig Weinaug's 2009 budget proposal recommends providing $28,756 to CSW. That would pay half the salary and benefits for the program coordinator's position under Stegall. Weinaug and Stegall said that if the county provides the funding, the city is likely to continue its funding.

The county, however, is considering dropping its funding. Commissioner Charles Jones noted the increasing costs of public safety.

"I just refuse to accept that, as a matter of principle, any one of our departments can't find a way to be more efficient," he said.

Commissioners are also looking at cutting funding for the Emergency Services Council and Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) by as little as 5 percent or as much as 100 percent.

The ESC, headed by Ballard Community Center Inc., 708 Elm St., provides assistance to people having difficulty paying utilities and rent. More than 300 households benefited from ESC in 2007, according to Paul Hunt, Ballard's director of human services. The council's efforts help prevent more people from becoming homeless, he said, adding that the number of people seeking help is increasing because of the troubled economy.

CASA representatives said their program has used volunteers to advocate for 75 to 100 children annually who have been abused and are under the court's protection.

Discussion

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10 July 2008
at 6:21 a.m.

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LogicMan (Anonymous) says…

We all need to make due with less (or stop doing …) for the next couple of years. Tough choices must be made.
10 July 2008
at 8:16 a.m.

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SettingTheRecordStraight (Anonymous) says…

When an agency relies on other people's money, i.e. the taxpayer, for all its funding, the whining is loud and long!
10 July 2008
at 8:49 a.m.

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OnlyTheOne (Anonymous) says…

Commissioner Charles Jones noted the increasing costs of public safety.

“I just refuse to accept that, as a matter of principle, any one of our departments can't find a way to be more efficient,” he said.

Now I know nothing about Commissioner Jones but this one comment is enough to put him in my “Good Guy” book for quite a while. It's high time County and City “leaders” learned that the populace is not a bottomless well and they need to spend our hard earned dollars more responsibly. And it's time that city and county funded agencies learn to tighten their belts, worry less about spending money for growth and more about doing more with less.
10 July 2008
at 9:07 a.m.

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rez4prez (Anonymous) says…

Did any of you attend any of the hearings yesterday? If not, how much do you know about the agencies that are facing cuts? Some cuts are minimal if they are just for the proposed budget year. However, these cuts are looking as though they my be longer term which could mean more signifciant problems for our community. This won't benefit our community at all. This isn't about “fat cats” taking advantage of tax dollars, but ensuring that tax dollars are being spent to continue very important services. I hope that none of you or your family need these services in the future and are unable due to them no longer being available. I guess then you'll be complaining about why there isn't a service to help you.
10 July 2008
at 9:31 a.m.

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justfornow (Anonymous) says…

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson
10 July 2008
at 9:31 a.m.

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SettingTheRecordStraight (Anonymous) says…

rez4prez,

Socialist countries have a lot of taxpayer-subsidized “services.” But we're not socialists - yet.
10 July 2008
at 9:37 a.m.

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justfornow (Anonymous) says…

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
10 July 2008
at 10:44 a.m.

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XD40 (Anonymous) says…

rez4prez: Most of us work for a living and, therefore, are unable to attend budget hearings during the day. Higher taxes take money out of my pocket. And what's really irritating is the coersive nature of it — we're not allowed to opt out. So, we view all taxing schemes with a large dose of skepticism.
10 July 2008
at 2:11 p.m.

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Defender (Anonymous) says…

“I guess then you'll be complaining about why there isn't a service to help you.”

I work, and will continue to work. I will take care of myself, I do not need the public to help me. Empower yourself, and stop wasting the resources of other citiens.