CLINTON (KWWL) -
Some domestic violence and sexual assault programs in Iowa could be gone next year in the wake of additional state budget cuts.
There are 28 programs throughout the state that would be cut back to 18 with the consolidation.
For example, Iowa City, Davenport, Clinton, Muscatine, Burlington, and Keokuk will need to combine their eight programs into three by next year.
The Clinton YWCA told KWQC-TV that it was notified last month at least $1.1M would be cut from state programs. For Clinton, they're expecting to lose about $256,000 a year, if not all of their state funding.
The cuts will take effect by summer 2013.
Terry Helinski, the Executive Director of Seeds of Hope, the domestic violence and sexual assault services provider in Black Hawk County, released this statement Saturday:
"In the face of ongoing state and federal budget cuts, the Crime Victim
Assistance Division (CVAD) of the Iowa Attorney Generals' Office has proposed a
restructuring plan for domestic violence and sexual assault programs statewide
to provide the fullest range of services possible in the wake of future budget
cuts.
Seeds of Hope remains committed to providing free services to
victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Black Hawk County. We are
grateful for continued community support we receive, including the very
successful Peace Motorcycle Ride that was sponsored by the Screaming Eagle
in Waterloo, and we remain confident and hopeful that we will weather these
budget cuts next year.
Although we do not yet know the specific impact
restructuring will have on each community, we do know that all domestic violence
and sexual assault programs statewide will combine into six regions. The
restructuring plan is in the very early stages of planning and will not take
effect until July 2013."
