First 5 on chopping block in proposed state budget
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released a proposed budget for
2009-2010 on New Year’s Eve that his staff says will lower a $41.6
billion budget deficit in the state
– and one part of that plan is to move a relatively small pot of
money collected for First 5 California to other children’s programs
run by the Department of Social Services.
First 5 on chopping block in proposed state budget
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released a proposed budget for 2009-2010 on New Year’s Eve that his staff says will lower a $41.6 billion budget deficit in the state – and one part of that plan is to move a relatively small pot of money collected for First 5 California to other children’s programs run by the Department of Social Services.
While the budget is still preliminary, it calls for $275 million to be moved from First 5 California – eliminating the state First 5 Commission that administers programs that offer affordable medical insurance for children and cutting funds to local programs in half.
“What would happen if the budget plan eliminates the voter-approved First 5 is it would eradicate all programs and services,” said Bill Madison, an information officer for First 5 California. “It would be devastating to those families and immediately put more California children at risk.”
On Dec. 17, the commission offered up $16.7 million to keep 65,000 children off waiting lists for health coverage.
“Think about rising unemployment,” Madison said. “More families are losing jobs. More families are falling into the category and we are the largest and most stable source of health coverage.”
First 5 California administers California Healthy Families, a program that offers medical, dental and vision coverage to children and teens who do not have it, and whose families do not qualify for Medi-Cal. The premiums vary, but for qualifying families, it ranges from $6-15 a month per child.
In November 1998, voters approved a statewide ballot initiative to add a 50 cent per pack tax on cigarettes that would be used to promote early childhood development for children from prenatal to 5. In addition to the California Healthy Families program, the money is used for education and childcare services, and is divied up to counties based on their annual birth rate.
First 5 San Benito receives $700,000 a year, but that would be cut in half if the governor’s proposal is approved. Because the money comes from a voter-approved tax, however, the budget would first need to be accepted by the state legislature. Then voters would need to approve a ballot initiative to divert the funds from First 5 to other programs.
“I think things certainly could change,” said Casey Castillo, the executive director of First 5 San Benito. “If it requires a two-thirds vote of the legislature and has to go before voters, that’s a lot of steps to go through.”
In San Benito, the commission is funding eight agencies for three years, and they are in the first year of a three-year cycle. In the past, the commission has supported such agencies Hollister Youth Alliance and the San Benito County Free Library staff efforts to purchase a bookmobile. Other agencies that applied for funding last year through First 5 include Aromas-San Juan Unified School District, Hazel Hawkins Hospital District, Hollister School District, Chamberlain’s, Centro Binacional Para el Desarrollo Ind’gena Oaxaque’o (CBDIO), the county Health and Human Services department, Tres Pinos Union School District and Emmaus House.
“We try to be responsible in our allocation,” Castillo said. “We want to make sure it is there so if we make a commitment we can honor that.”
With the state budget still up in the air, the state and local commissions are in limbo.
“We are paying attention,” Castillo said. “But nothing is definite yet.”
