[nfbwatlk] DSB Budget

[Nfbnorthwest at aol.com]

Do we have any other kind of funding that will take up the slack such as  
federal or private funding?
 
Lisa Owen
 
 
In a message dated 9/4/2010 7:56:59 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
k7uij at panix.com writes:

Fellow  Washingtonians:

The budget crunch is coming. It looks like revenue may  not be as great as 
some would like and Governor Gregoire has asked state  agencies to project 
budget cuts up to ten percent. And she has stipulated that  taking a little 
here and a little there from each agency program won't cut it;  agencies must 
specify programs that would be eliminated.

DSB must  therefore submit such budget and program cut proposals. I have 
LouOma's  proposals for program cuts but do not feel at liberty to distribute 
these on  the list but will be happy to send them to those who need them. 
I'll be out of  town for two weeks starting Tuesday so you may also ask any 
member of the NFBW  Board of Directors to send you the proposals.

In essence, most programs  either do not have many state dollars (something 
like $240,000 must be cut) or  if state dollars were cut, would result in 
an inordinate loss of funds so  although DSB's basic VR program is in the 
mix, it's dead last on the priority  list. Also, NFB Newsline® is not in danger 
as it receives money from the  
Business Enterprises Program. In fact, the whole BEP program is not in  
danger; few state dollars go into it as it accrues most of its revenue from  
vending machine income.

LouOma has *no* good options. Even eliminating  the OTC or other such 
drastic steps wouldn't result in enough  savings.

The primary proposal is to cut a contract subsidizing the  Deaf-blind 
Service Center in Seattle. That's an awful choice considering that  the DB 
population has little political voice. But when we look at DSB's  overall mission, 
it makes sense and would cut enough to fulfill Governor  Gregoire's 
requirements.

Next-best would be to cut drastically  independent living funds for those 
under 55 including what's left of the child  and family program. Older 
persons would be affected also. I feel that while  (given the School for the 
Blind) DSB could probably do away with any effort  for families with blind 
children, it would not save much money in that the  program is, as I say, very 
minimal now.

All in all, it is my personal  opinion that while it is extremely 
regrettable and unfair and any other  adjectives one wants to use, LouOma has 
probably made the correct Draconian  choice and that the Seattle Lighthouse and 
perhaps fund-raising might be able  to take up some of the slack resulting from 
DSB's contract  cancellation.

LouOma would welcome other proposals but we must remember  that they need 
to cut at least $240,000 in state-only dollars and not result  in an 
emasculation of the Federally-funded parts of DSB's efforts.

Mike  Freeman, President
NFB of  Washington
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