Date Published: March 19, 2008
MANATEE --
There will be fewer dollars to help abused and at-risk children this year, due to tax reforms and declining property values, county staff reported Tuesday.
Last year, revenues from the Children's Services Tax topped $7 million.
This year that amount could be reduced by as much as 16 percent once final tax revenues and property values are determined, said Jim Seuffert, director of the county's finance department.
Voter-approved tax reforms called Amendment 1 will reduce the children's tax revenues by 6 percent and declining property values will likely cut another 8 to 10 percent, Seuffert told county commissioners and a citizens review panel Tuesday during a meeting to discuss how the cuts might affect funding decisions this year.
"We can pass the hat right now and start throwing in dollars," said Kirk Zeppi, chairman of the Children's Services Advisory Board, which reviews applications for grants from the dedicated county tax fund to help abused and at-risk children.
"Over the past few years the board has gone through many tax issues with property values, but we know this year we are in for big challenges," Zeppi said.
In the past, the Children's Advisory Board has known by March 1 approximately how much money would be in the special tax fund for the coming year.
But the board will start its review of grant applications in April without knowing how much it has to spend.
The Children's Services Tax, passed by voters in 1990, sets aside a designated property tax to cover the needs of at-risk children.
Some four dozen agencies turned in 112 applications totaling more than $8 million in grant requests.
The cutbacks come at a time when drugs, violence and gangs are putting more children at risk, said Manatee County Sheriff's Maj. Connie Shingledecker, a member of the children's tax advisory board.
"We are going to have more people and programs trying to get fewer dollars," said Shingledecker, who pushed for a yearly assessment of community needs so that children's tax fund could be directed toward the most critical needs.
The last needs assessment was conducted in 1999.
The two boards agreed that it is too late in the process to begin a needs assessment for this year, but they agreed to meet for a one-day retreat in the fall.
Advisory board members were charged with bringing data to that meeting that will help illustrate needs in the community.
Shingledecker recommended beginning with child death reports from the medical examiner.
Commissioner Gwen Brown stressed the need to look beyond reports to what is actually happening on the streets. The problems, she said, extend far beyond one or two issues.
"All of the problems are all No. 1 issues," Brown said. "Sure, drugs is a No. 1 issue, but teen pregnancy is, too. We have one of the highest rates in the state. AIDS among teens is a No. 1 issue. But what I also see is the need for a program for black males that teaches them what is involved in being a black man."
There is an anger consuming young black men, Brown said, an anger that comes from hard economic conditions.
"We need to do something as a community to address that anger," Brown said.
The advisory board also presented a proposal for a screening system to review applications so only those that qualify by mission, program description and the ability to produce measurable results are eligible for funding.
In years past the Children's Services Tax Fund has underwritten a myriad of child care programs, recreation alternatives, self-esteem classes, teen pregnancy prevention efforts and health services, as well as child abuse prevention and shelter services.
Donna Wright
Bradenton Herald
March 19, 2008