Caledonia Argus

Semcac director concerned over proposed budget cuts

Posted: 3/18/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

Governor Pawlentyís proposed budget stands to adversely impact the community action agency SEMCAC should it receive legislative approval.

ìThe proposed cuts will have a tremendous impact on our agency and our clients,î said SEMCAC Executive Director Bruce Hartert. ìWe may lose some programs, we may not, but if all this goes through, several of the programs will be reduced a lot.î

SEMCAC currently provides a wide variety of programs and services throughout an 11-county area. Upwards of 20 programs are administered in Houston County alone, including Meals on Wheels, Head Start child development, and Senior Dining.

It is Senior Dining, Hartert commented, that will be subject to one of the largest funding cuts if Pawlentyís budget is implemented.

ìThereís a good chance we could see our (state) Senior Dining and state nutrition dollars totally eliminated,î he said. ìIf that went through, weíd probably have to shut down 15 (of 57) sites.î

The Senior Dining program receives federal funding in addition to state dollars, but without state funding, the program will have $250,000 less on which to operate, which means 55,000 fewer meals will be served over the course of a year, and many who currently benefitting from the program would no longer have access.

A central obstacle to SEMCACís operation that is built into Pawlentyís budget proposal is the reduction in Minnesota Economic Opportunity Grant (MEOG) money allotted to Community Action Programs (CAPs). CAP agencies such as SEMCAC stand to lose 52% of the MEOG funds provided by the state.

MEOG dollars are unrestricted, in that agencies can use them at their discretion. SEMCAC uses this funding to foot the cost of operations, and to finance things like food shelves, contact centers, and other support programs. SEMCAC has been receiving $307,000 in community action dollars per year, and reducing that figure by more than half would mean SEMCACís power to administer quality programs would be severely hindered.

Hartert said that, though the situation looks bleak for MEOG funding, measures can be taken to safeguard the agency and its clients from some of the worst potential effects. The solution, then, lies in utilizing other funding to alleviate the areas hardest hit. ìWhat happens if thereís an unmet need,î he said, ìis weíll see what sources of funding we can tap into.î

Though state cuts would directly affect SEMCAC, the effect it will have on counties and citiesñ from which SEMCAC also receives fundsñ is another concern. This ripple effect has already become noticeable in Houston County.

ìHouston County has been very supportive of our program,î Hartert noted. ìTheyíve given $3000 to help the transportation program, but as of this year, we wonít be receiving those dollars, because they have to tighten their belts.î

Some SEMCAC programs like Head Start have not been targeted for cuts, but the overall picture looks grim, said Hartert, since Pawlenty has vowed not to make reductions in K-12 education or to raise taxes. To balance the budget and rectify a deficit in excess of $4 billion, agencies like SEMCAC have become targets.

ìItís a difficult time,î Hartert said. ìIt translates into fewer services and probably less quality services. Going in we knew weíd be taking a hit here and there, but we didnít anticipate it would be this severe. If most people were aware of the impact this would have, I think a lot of Minnesotans would be willing to endure a small tax increase.î

SEMCAC will pull through the budget mess, Hartert thinks, but is skeptical whether smaller agencies will fare as well.

ìWeíre a fairly large community action agency, and weíre going to survive, but there are other agencies that will not survive this,î he said. ìIf we all end up receiving a 53% cut, there will be community agencies that will have to close their doors.î

That Pawlenty is targeting agencies like SEMCAC, Hartert believes, is something that, should the general public become aware of it, an uproar would ensue.

ìThe governor has said there are many good non-profits that could do what the state is doing (i.e., cutting programs), and I find that ironic, because this budget is aimed at non-profits, itís desecrating non-profits,î he said. ìThe state has an obligation, and I donít think this budget is what the state ought to do. People will wake up and smell the coffee, and they will be outraged.î

With impending cuts threatening the efficacy of his agency, Hartert said, until Pawlentyís budget is finalized, ìevery day you just hold your breath.

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