Kimberlyd125
Softball is for everyone. Fast pitch is for athlet
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http://jacksonville.com/community/c...ims-services-center-feel-strain-county-budget
Clay commissioners, Victims Services Center feel strain of county budget cuts
Snipped:
The Clay County Commission was caught Tuesday between the rock of a tight budget and the hard place of a nonprofit program's emergency funding request to keep serving sexual assault victims.
There was no easy answer.
"Everybody has to sacrifice," said Commission Chairman Travis Cummings. "We just can't do it all."
The commission was holding the first of two public hearings on its $251.4 million 2010-11 budget and property tax rate of $7.4492 for every $1,000 of assessed value, the same rate as 2009-10.
Also Snipped:
Another supporter was Diena Thompson of Orange Park, whose 7-year-old daughter Somer was slain last year. She tearfully told commissioners that the center plays an integral role in the justice system.
"Don't forget to get the monsters off the street," she said. "This is not a luxury; it is necessary to keep the children safe."
County officials have offered county space for the center, which would eliminate lease payments, but that space may not meet state regulations for a victim services program. Also, the space is a building adjacent to the fairgrounds that is smaller than the current center. In addition, Thompson said that putting the center there could taint the fairgrounds forever as a "hurtful place" for victims, particularly children who would recall their sessions there every time they go to the fair.
Commissioners said they sympathized, but said many other agencies are dealing with the same kind of cuts. To give the center more money, the commission would have to fire an employee or further reduce funding to another agency.
Clay commissioners, Victims Services Center feel strain of county budget cuts
Snipped:
The Clay County Commission was caught Tuesday between the rock of a tight budget and the hard place of a nonprofit program's emergency funding request to keep serving sexual assault victims.
There was no easy answer.
"Everybody has to sacrifice," said Commission Chairman Travis Cummings. "We just can't do it all."
The commission was holding the first of two public hearings on its $251.4 million 2010-11 budget and property tax rate of $7.4492 for every $1,000 of assessed value, the same rate as 2009-10.
Also Snipped:
Another supporter was Diena Thompson of Orange Park, whose 7-year-old daughter Somer was slain last year. She tearfully told commissioners that the center plays an integral role in the justice system.
"Don't forget to get the monsters off the street," she said. "This is not a luxury; it is necessary to keep the children safe."
County officials have offered county space for the center, which would eliminate lease payments, but that space may not meet state regulations for a victim services program. Also, the space is a building adjacent to the fairgrounds that is smaller than the current center. In addition, Thompson said that putting the center there could taint the fairgrounds forever as a "hurtful place" for victims, particularly children who would recall their sessions there every time they go to the fair.
Commissioners said they sympathized, but said many other agencies are dealing with the same kind of cuts. To give the center more money, the commission would have to fire an employee or further reduce funding to another agency.
