[Winona] County Budget Cuts

[Kathy Seifert]

It's been called to my attention that the county board has proposed to eliminate any funding for victims of sexual and domestic assault (in addition to many other services, of course).  I did some checking and discovered that the amount the county has provided to the Women's Resource Center (WRC) to provide these services has remained steady for the past 10 or so years while the number of individuals served has significantly increased.  They have been doing more with less since the organization was formed 25 years ago.  County funding provides for about 8% of the annual budget for the WRC.  I suspect that this is a significant blow to those do such significant and emotional work--assisting those who have been physically or sexually assaulted, often by someone whom they love.   I'm also aware that the move of U of M-Extension offices to Rochester will significantly affect the ability of residents to access these services and that county funds for these services are also on the "chopping block."   I suggest that we share other examples of the proposed cuts and how services will be affected. In addition I encourage that we, as individuals, contact our elected officials and make our concerns known.  It is simple to go to the website and click on or cut and paste email addresses to send a message.   What do you think?  What other cuts are you aware of?   Kathy Seifert