Cuts will hurt the most vulnerable

To the editor:

As a long-time citizen of Henry County, I am appalled and dismayed at the proposed budget cuts that are posted on the Board of Commissioners’ web site. After all the services already being asked to take a 5 percent cut, now the BOC is to vote on an additional 15 percent reduction in what the county contributes to the Department of Family and Children Services, the Henry County Health Department, the Developmental Disabilities Services and the Henry County Public Library System.

In other words, they are making the deepest cuts to those who are the most vulnerable and least able to speak up (children, the uninsured, the disabled, those in need of employment and education.)

While the Library system serves all people, the use of libraries skyrockets during hard economic times, because many people cannot afford home internet services, newspapers, and books. They depend heavily on public libraries for help with job searches, government-assistance information and health education. Many employers no longer accept paper applications or resumes; everything must be submitted electronically.

The Library Board has been forced to take immediate action, pending approval of the new county budget. All libraries are closed for a week and the staff placed on unpaid furloughs.

Effective June 15, nearly half the staff will be laid off and many of the remaining employees will lose their health insurance. Starting July 1, all Henry County public libraries will reduce service hours from 58 hours a week to 38. They will no longer be open on Saturdays.

I appeal to the BOC to reconsider the budget cuts, or at least to spread the reductions to all services, therefore, reducing the amount to each one.

BETTY SIMS ENGLISH
Hampton