In tough budget battles, human services advocates have one ace in the hole: the ability to jerk tears. And on Tuesday, Fairfax County’s Human Services Council made a valiant effort in its presentation to the Board of Supervisors, asking for $4.1 million in funding above the county executive’s fiscal 2012 recommendations.
Council Chairman Kevin Bell started strong: “This is for the kids,” he said. “We’re judged on how we treat our children.”
The council’s recommendations were based on a handful of “distress signals” coming from the community:
- Between 2008 and 2010, the average monthly caseload of clients on public assistance grew 37 percent to 71,000 residents, up from 52,000.
- Between 2008 and 2010, the number of people visiting the county’s SkillSource job-search centers grew 61 percent to 61,000, up from 38,000.
- Nearly 3,000 children in the county are on a waiting list for child care subsidies. The median income of families receiving the subsidies is just over $25,000.
- There is one domestic violence shelter bed for every 31,000 people in the county – the lowest ratio in Virginia. There’s a 45-person waiting list for individual domestic violence counseling.
And though it’s an oft-repeated phrase during budget negotiations of the past few years, human service agencies have already “cut to the bone,” Bell said. “And who knows what’s left of the skeleton?”
A quick glance around the room revealed that the supervisors maintained composure – though somber looks were in good order. The supervisors have until April 26 to hammer out the details of the final fiscal 2012 budget.
