News Details - Legislature Approves Funding to Offset State Aid Cuts to Youth Programs

The Legislature, by unanimous vote of those present (Legislators Nathan Shinagawa and Leslyn McBean-Clairborne were excused) approved the allocation of up to $67,500 in contingency funding to fill the gap left by an anticipated 32% reduction in State aid for the County’s youth services programs. If not restored through local dollars, programs and activities scheduled to be provided to the county’s youth over the rest of 2012, through agency and municipal contracts, would be diminished or eliminated.

The measure notes that the County wishes to sustain the level of programs and activities put forward in the County’s 2012 budget, enabling youth to be served and also providing time for the Youth Services Department and the agencies it supports to consider ways to adjust to diminished State support, as next year’s County budget is prepared. Youth Services Director Amie Hendrix noted that State funding for youth services has declined by more than 67% since 2010.

Programs affected include the Advocacy Center, Bridges for Youth and Families, Child Development Council, Cooperative Extension, Ithaca Youth Bureau, the Learning Web, and municipal youth services programming.

04-17-2012