"As the Trump administration moves to freeze billions in federal social services funding and advance deep cuts to health care and other programs, Bay Area counties are increasingly turning to local ballot measures to keep education, child care and medical services afloat. On Tuesday morning, the administration froze $10 billion in social services funding across five Democratic-controlled states, affecting cash assistance for low-income families as well as scholarships and other child care programs."
"At the same time, the federal budget sharply reduces spending on health care and other services, leaving local governments to grapple with how to replace the lost money. This is a hurricane. It is a financial hurricane that is going to descend on local governments harder than any other level, said Larry Gerston, political science professor at San Jose State University. People don't realize the gravity of what's about to hit."
The Trump administration froze $10 billion in social services funding across five Democratic-controlled states and proposed deep federal budget cuts to health care and other programs. Local governments now face gaps in cash assistance, scholarships, child care programs and medical services as federal dollars shrink. Counties from Alameda to Santa Clara are turning to voter-approved taxes and ballot measures to stabilize funding for education, child care and health services. Alameda County's Measure C raises about $150 million annually for child care centers, early development screening and supports for children under five. Emergency grants have reached roughly 78% of eligible facilities and programs are expanding to family scholarships. States are filing lawsuits while Congress debates the changes.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]