WDET News
- Advocates for Childhood Health, Education Protesting Cuts
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Jul 30, 2009Metro Desk
Advocates for early childhood health and education programs are looking to build a public campaign against state program cuts slated for Wayne County.
The Great Start Collaborative of Wayne County says it could see over $130 million in program cuts as state lawmakers continue the budget process.
Melody Moore is with the Great Start Collaborative.
She says lawmakers are making the cuts believing that there are other community supports in place.
“But there are not. For example with the preschool program. Once that program is eliminated there are not additional supports to support children so they can enter a preschool program. The Healthy Michigan Fund, there are not enough supports in place to provide these services to families.”
Moore says one way to pay for the programs could be a penny tax on services or alcohol.
Senate-House conference committees in Lansing will be seated soon to hash out the budgets related to the early childhood programs.