The state’s recent budget cuts are affecting dozens of children in Manatee County.
When the state budget was signed on June 23, it included a 47 percent funding cut totaling $4,966,500 for the Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs.
The funding supported critical afterschool programming and outreach services to disengaged youth (not in school and not working).
For the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, it is a projected $219,000 cut in local funds.
“The loss of this funding equates to having to eliminate 14 positions within the organization and we project that 370 kids will not be served either through the club programs or through our outreach efforts in the community,” said Dawn Stanhope, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County.
To minimize the impact of the budget cuts, some employees were moved into other open roles within the organization.
Staff members that lost their jobs have been put on an eligible-for-rehire list until a position meeting their qualifications becomes available.
Due to the staffing reduction, there will be no outreach services provided to disengaged youth. Additionally, all seven club locations have been directed to use a waiting list for families in order to maintain proper staff-to-child ratios.
Stanhope says economic impact goes beyond job loss, and worries that kids who are left unsupervised could end up in trouble.
Stanhope is urging the community to contact local lawmakers and ask for support for increased funding.