Local veterans groups haven’t mounted a defense like members of
4-H did two weeks ago. But they too have expressed dismay over the
county possibly reducing the budget by cutting programs not
required by the state.
Local veterans groups haven’t mounted a defense like members of 4-H did two weeks ago. But they too have expressed dismay over the county possibly reducing the budget by cutting programs not required by the state.
The Board of Supervisors budget committee, made up of supervisors Pat Loe and Richard Scagliotti, recommended several targets for potential cuts. Included among them were “discretionary” programs such as veterans services, 4-H, parks, fire protection and public works.
The $53,000 in county funding allocated to veterans services this fiscal year went toward a contract with Monterey County to provide a part-time veterans services officer, according to county Management Analyst Susan Lyons. The officer comes to San Benito twice a week to advise on veterans benefits and advocate on their behalf to state and federal agencies.
That person oversees services provided to the 3,000-plus veterans in San Benito, said Richard Herrera, spokesman for the local American Legion post, one of three local veterans organizations.
“We fervently and respectfully request that you not remove this much-needed service,” Cal Turpin, a former national chaplain of the American Legion, told the board at its last meeting. “To do so would adversely affect many who have offered their lives in the service of their country.”
Herrera hopes the county not only spares the funding allocation, but that officials also consider hiring a local veterans services officer – instead of contracting with Monterey.
That local position also would be part-time. And he believes many local veterans would apply for the job, he said.
“All we can do is ask they not cut this program,” Herrera said.
County department head requests this year came in at $4 million more than projected revenues, prompting plans for across-the-board cuts.
The policy to cut discretionary programs isn’t set in stone. But even the mention of cuts induced a flurry of 4-H supporters writing letters to the media and picketing downtown, and more recently a handful of veterans showing their support at a board meeting.
That $53,000 allocation in 2003-04 increased from the $32,000 allocated four years ago, according to the budget. The state also funnels money to San Benito each year; it’s expected to be $9,000 in 2004-05, compared with $5,000 this year, Lyons said.
County Administrative Officer Terrence May planned to propose a budget in which cuts are spread evenly among county departments and programs, Lyons said. Though he has not completed a detailed breakdown yet, she said.
Turpin, a World War II veteran and 23-year resident of San Benito, spoke to the board about how those veterans are aging. He’s one of four million surviving World War II veterans, and he pointed out that those remaining are dying at a rate of 2,000 a day.
Part of the veterans services officer’s job is to help family members of the deceased.
“The veterans services officer is greatly needed to assure that these departing veterans are properly honored, and that the surviving spouse receives the benefits to which they are due,” Turpin said.
