YOUR AD HERE »

Tahoe Women’s Services hit by California budget cuts

Annie Flanzraich
Sierra Sun

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and#8212; A and#8220;tremendous blowand#8221; came to Tahoe Womenand#8217;s Services this week when California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated the stateand#8217;s $20.4 million program to support domestic violence shelters and centers.

and#8220;We knew that cuts were coming, so we prepared for it,and#8221; said Karen Carey, TWS executive director. and#8220;But we were preparing for some cuts, maybe some substantial cuts, but not for the state to completely eliminate this funding.and#8221;

The state-wide cut means a 17 percent budget reduction for the North Shore and Truckee domestic violence agency.



On Tuesday Schwarzenegger used his line-item veto authority to cut $656 million in programs that will let the state restore a reserve fund he said is needed for tough times. The governor made the cuts after the state Assembly rejected about $1.1 billion in revenues from local transportation funding and by allowing new offshore oil drilling.

Those vetoes included the Department of Public Healthand#8217;s domestic violence program, severing $20.4 million in funds to 94 domestic violence shelters and centers across California. Before the governorand#8217;s vetoes, the state Legislature approved a 20 percent reduction to the program.



After overcoming the initial shock of the cuts, Carey said she is looking for ways to meet the budget reduction while still maintaining TWSand#8217;s level of service.

and#8220;My No. 1 goal is to be able to provide quality domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse services,and#8221; Carey said. and#8220;Our staff delivers those services and we cant deliver those services without the staff.and#8221;

Nonessential costs are the first thing Carey said she would look at cutting. After Carey and TWS staff come up with a budget to meet the reduced funding, it will be brought before the TWS finance committee for approval.

and#8220;For the sake of my staff I would like to have it happen fairly quickly, but thoughtfully,and#8221; Carey said about a timeline for the new budget. and#8220;I am not rushing into anything. I want to make sure that the decisions that are made are good ones for the organization.and#8221;

TWS is also looking for other grants and donations to help bridge the loss.

and#8220;There is always the hope and possibility that donations will come in and we will be able to receive additional dollars through grants to help make up for this,and#8221; she said. and#8220;But that will take some time and we believe strongly in having a budget that makes sense and works so we are striving to find ways to meet those cuts.and#8221;

The nonprofit agency is also looking for people to volunteer their time in different areas, said Volunteer Coordinator Erin Everett.

and#8220;We have volunteer opportunities available almost every day of the week,and#8221; she said.

After Schwarzenegger made his vetoes Tuesday, state Democrats immediately questioned whether he had the authority to make some of the cuts. One of them was Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a Democrat who negotiated the original budget compromise with Schwarzenegger.

and#8220;We will fight to restore every dollar of additional cuts to health and human services,and#8221; Steinberg said in a written statement. and#8220;This is not the last word.and#8221;

However, Californiaand#8217;s domestic violence shelters and programs cannot count on that money coming back immediately, said Tara Shabazz, executive director of The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence.

and#8220;We are not putting all of our eggs in one basket but we are working with our allies in the legislature to getting these fund reinstated,and#8221; Shabazz.

Likewise Carey said her agency is continuing to diversify itand#8217;s funding.

and#8220;With challenges come opportunities,and#8221; she said. and#8220;(These cuts) force us to recognize how important it is that we are not dependent on government grants.and#8221;

To donate your time or money to Tahoe Womenand#8217;s Services contact them at tws@tahoewomenservices.org or visit the website at tahoewomensservices.org.


Support Local Journalism

 

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond make the Sierra Sun's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.