After adopting a budget-cutting Executive Order on May
5th for the current fiscal year, which began in
September 2008, that included deep cuts in services
for children and families, the Legislature is now
moving forward with the fiscal year 2010 budget.
On June 16th and 17th, the Senate Appropriations
Committee completed its versions of the Department
of Community Health (DCH) and the K-12 School Aid
budgets for the fiscal year (FY 2010).
The K-12 School Aid budget essentially cut all early
childhood program funding. The Senate
Appropriations Committee has also approved some
harmful budget cuts in the DCH budget-its version
comes in at $533.6 million below the Governor's
recommended budget; however, it does include some
strong protections for children.
Now is the time to spread the word in your community
about these devastating proposed cuts, and to
communicate with your State Senators and
Representatives to let them know that the state budget
cannot be balanced on the backs of vulnerable
children and their families.
Find out what you can do and who to contact to ensure
that funding for children and families is maintained in
the budgets in the June 19 Action Alert.
