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Friday, May 24, 2013
Cuts to local children's services
by Kathleen Haley, published on May 11, 2011 at 6:26 PM
Storyline: Regional Issues
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A Sacramento County commission that provides funding for local children’s services suffered severe cuts earlier this month.
The First 5 Sacramento Commission cut $43.7 million from its budget May 2. The cuts were ordered by the state, which is using funding from First 5 programs to pay for Medi-Cal children’s services.
The local First 5 cuts reduced funding for a county program that assists women with breast-feeding and for a program at nine school districts that helps young children transition into school, according to Toni Moore, executive director of the First 5 Sacramento Commission.
Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Glennah Trochet said the cuts were painful.
“We are a very resilient society,” Trochet said. “I’m hoping in better times, some of these programs will be restored. Or, as a society, we’ll make sure to give importance to the youngest and most vulnerable in our community.”
Trochet is a First 5 commissioner, but she did not vote on the budget cuts. Trochet’s department includes programs that receive First 5 funding, and it would have been a conflict of interest for her to vote, she said.
More cuts to the commission are still to come. The commission expects the state will require $4.8 million on top of the $43.7 million in cuts, according to a news release.
California Assemblyman Roger Dickinson of Sacramento commented on the First 5 cuts during a meeting with The Sacramento Press Wednesday. “I’m hopeful we’ll get back to restoring First 5 as we go,” he said.
Budget cuts totaling $43.7 million will be distributed until the 2014/2015 fiscal year, the news release said.
Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.
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But here's what every voter should know about the First 5 system: Unlike EVERY OTHER organization in CA, First 5 has a legal exception to the conflict of interest law - that means people sitting on their Commission Boards can and generally DO receive the lion's share of the funds (Oh yes they DO!!!). That's why they are suing. It's not to preserve what they claim the voters intended, it's to preserve their own personal pet programs.
"Karen Scott, executive director of First 5 San Bernardino, said her commission has no litigation plans." Why? ... perhaps this quote from another Executive Director is why: From Contra Costa's February minutes: " Sean Casey: We don’t have any real argument against it which is why we’re really stressing the other piece. Sure, take the money..."
So add to that Rob Reiner, the originator of Prop 10, supports the $1 billion move - if he thought it were illegal, he'd be up in arms (and he is not) so why sue since the law allows the move?
Well, this way the commissioners get to spend as much OF THE TAXPAYERS' money as they want to try to save funds for mainly THEIR OWN agencies.
This IS what happens when you write into a law that the foxes can guard and eat from the hen house - and the Prop 10 law does just that.
At least the state is not willing to let poor kids DIE.
On the other hand, at those First 5's who have joined the lawsuit, the Commissioners are fighting to do just that.