AmeriCorps cuts could have local impacts

By TRIP BURNS

Lake County Leader

National budget cuts in both the Senate and Congress could have long-term effects locally in Montana next year. 

AmeriCorps, a national service organization funded by federal and state taxes, could potentially see a 20 to 30 percent cut in funding across the board. Montana’s allotted budget for the programs is currently $1.9 million.

Montana has about 6,000 participants in various programs across the state. Programs such as FoodCorps, Montana Legal Services Association and Montana Conservation Corps are all funded nationally through competitive grants. Two weeks ago, the listed programs were awarded their grants for the fiscal year 2015.

The proposed budget cuts would affect the programs in 2016. One such program that could feel the cuts locally is the Montana Conservation Corps. The program and its participants work mostly outdoors, restoring trails, and general upkeep in Montana’s state parks and on public property.

Jono McKinney, the Montana Conservation Corps president and CEO, said the possible cuts would hurt his program, not only in the AmeriCorps, but the Youth Corps as well. These programs depend on the participation of young people to populate the ranks, get some experience, and help complete the mission. With the possible budget cuts in Congress and the Senate, some young people could be left out. Their participation and services would no longer be sought, or at the very least, greatly reduced.

“It’s a cascading effort,” McKinney said, speaking of the Montana Conservation Corps participation. He depends on the participation of a varied group of people on the staff. “It’s a foundation of the service at AmeriCorps.”

If the budget cuts reach Montana, the grants that groups like McKinney’s apply for will be even more competitive, he said.

“There’s been a trend of government to shift responsibility to the private sector,” McKinney said. “The dynamic has changed.”

The Conservation Corps works on 1,000 miles of trail construction each year, not to mention the backlog of work orders not yet completed.

“Montana’s economy is linked to the outdoors,” he said. “Outdoor tourism is the second largest part of the economy.” 

The Conservation Corps also deals with invasive species and works heavily with the state government to produce results, McKinney said.

“We get great returns,” he said. “We’re a good investment. For every dollar we bring in, we’re able to leverage that dollar into two or three dollars, specific to the needs of the community.” Not all programs match the success of McKinney’s statement, although the AmeriCorps programs to return and match funds on an annual basis throughout the country. According to the AmeriCorps, over $10 million in national service efforts is being leveraged into “community solutions” by local programs, with an additional $6,360,000 leveraged by local groups.

The outdoor and recreational community would not be the only aspect of Montana’s people that would be affected by the cuts. Allison Paul, the executive director of the Montana Legal Services Association, said low-income people who need legal representation could see services dwindle.

“It would decimate our program,” she said. “We’re already a small program. It would be hard to run it much smaller.”

When a person who can’t afford a lawyer is arrested and charged, the right to an attorney is a part of every citizen’s Miranda rights. However, this only applies to criminal cases. If a citizen is involved in a civil matter, and cannot afford a lawyer, that citizen has no right to an attorney. Paul said this is where the Montana Legal Services Association steps in to help.

“We provide a unique opportunity for people,” she said.

As of now, there are no backup plans for the Montana Conservation Corps or the Montana Legal Services Association to come up with funds in case the budget cuts force them to let people go. The grants just awarded by the state of Montana will last until March 2016.