Douglas County Extension horticulture agent Jennifer Smith, center, works with youths to identify plants during a Horticulture Fun Camp last week at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds. From left are Kellan Russell, 10, Chase Dresler, 9, and Janey Been, 13. Because of budget cuts to the county's extension office, the position of Master Gardener program coordinator will be cut. Smith will have to assume those duties.

The harsh reality of today’s economic difficulties was driven home last week to social service agencies funded by the Douglas County Commission.

Commissioners cut their funding allocations. Now the leaders of those agencies must do some cutting of their own.

“I understand they had a job to do and we’ll just have to work through it,” said Sharon Spratt, Cottonwood Inc.’s chief executive.

When Commissioners Bob Johnson, Jere McElhaney and Charles Jones reached agreement on expenditures for 2009, Cottonwood was left with a $50,000 gap to fill just to get back to the level of its 2008 budget.

Cottonwood, 2801 W. 31st St., provides services for the developmentally disabled in Douglas and Jefferson counties. Spratt said she would discuss budgeting options with the agency’s board of directors the next time it meets.

“I’m really not sure what we’ll do,” she said.

Draconian measurers

Other county-supported agency heads also are in a quandary.

“Like all of the social service agencies, we’re very disappointed in the cuts in funding but we hope that our donors and other caring citizens in Douglas County will step forward and make up the gap,” said Diana Frederick, director of the Douglas County Court Appointed Special Advocate program, or CASA.

CASA, 1100 Mass., trains volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children who are brought before the court. They help between 75 and 100 children a year find safe and permanent homes. CASA funding dropped from $26,000 to $21,000.

One thing CASA might consider is reducing salaries, Frederick said.

“Our goal is to minimize the impact on children as much as possible,” she said.

Independence Inc. is losing $22,317, making its county allocation $237,317. The agency at 2001 Haskell Ave. helps people with disabilities maintain independence by helping them find a place to live and work. This agency, too, will look at cuts to staff salaries and benefits, director Tanya Dorf Brunner said.

“We’re looking at pretty draconian measures that will probably end up hurting staff and services,” she said.

Independence Inc. has a 40-member staff and serves 1,000 people a year, Brunner said.

Recovery to be ‘difficult’

K-State Research and Extension’s Douglas County office, 2110 Harper St., didn’t escape the cuts. A funding reduction of $50,000 means it will jettison its 4-H after-school program and the two assistants who handle it, extension Director Trudy Rice said. The Master Gardener Program will lose its full-time coordinator, she said. Jennifer Smith, the horticulture agent, will pull double duty as the new coordinator. That will reduce her ability to do public outreach work, Rice said.

Although cuts were expected, they were not expected to be so deep, Rice said.

“We’re certainly willing to do our part and we understand all agencies were cut, but it was very surprising,” she said. “It will be very difficult to recover from.”

Douglas County Senior Services, 745 Vt., might have to “make some adjustments” to its adult day program as it finds ways to deal with a $43,000 cut, Director John Glassman said. The agency already was looking at changes to its transportation program, including a fee-based senior bus service, he said.

“We’re looking at everything,” Glassman said.

Chamber criticized

During budget discussions about funding for economic development, Commissioners Jones and McElhaney were especially critical of what they said was a lack of leadership by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. Funds to chamber economic development marketing were cut by nearly $15,000.

But County Administrator Craig Weinaug recommended putting $750,000 into a new, separate economic development reserve fund. That fund could be available to assist the chamber in securing new businesses or industries. Jones and McElhaney whittled the amount to $300,000, citing a lack of confidence in the chamber.

In April, Lavern Squier resigned as the chamber’s CEO and president. Chuck Warner was named the interim chief executive. Last week, Warner noted that the chamber is in transition, adding that it is normal for the community to show tentativeness about the leadership until a new CEO arrives. A national firm is helping the chamber board with the search for a new chief and is on track to fill the job in the fall, Warner said. The staff is working to continue to promote economic development, he said.

“In spite of the comments about leadership and the cuts to direct funding to the chamber, the city and county have both increased their overall financial support to economic development, which the chamber supports and appreciates,” Warner said, referring to the new county economic development fund.

Jim Otten, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, said the board would continue to work with civic leaders and provide “outstanding leadership for future economic development and business retention and growth.”