Rock County could take a hit in state budget
JANESVILLE — Rock County could lose $2.6 million in state funding in the governor’s proposed 2009 through 2011 state budget, county officials said.
Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget cuts money for Rock County Human Services and other departments, impacting areas where the need is greatest, Rock County Administrator Craig Knutson said.
Child protective services, juvenile probation and medical and food-assistance programs would take a hit, he said.
Low-income families would be affected most by the loss, Knutson said.
“Rock County has lost over 6,000 jobs in the last 18 months. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the state,” Knutson said. “We just see the demand continue to increase given the unemployment rate.”
A $391,000 cut to child protective services in 2010 could affect investigations into abuse and neglect cases, Knutson said. And economic stress on families has increased demand.
A $147,300 slice to the county’s “income maintenance allocation” in 2010 takes money for the management of medical, food stamp and child-care programs, he said.
The demand for people in need of medical or food assistance has tripled to 15,000 cases since the mid-1990s, Knutson said.
A few hundred cases have been added each month this year, he said.
“These budget cuts are going to make it that much more difficult to provide the services our citizens really need, particularly in these economic times,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rock County hasn’t received a funding increase for these departments since the 1990s, Knutson said, and the cost of doing business has gone up.
“It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for a lot of these dollar amounts being frozen for the last 15 years,” he said.
Other cuts in the state budget include $413,200 in 2010 to combat juvenile crime with probation, diversion and other youth programs, Knutson said.
Rock Haven Nursing Home also could lose $344,000 in 2010, he said.
While the state budget proposes similar cuts to counties statewide, it has increased funding for the same departments the state controls in Milwaukee County, Knutson said.
Although Milwaukee County might need the money, other counties face the same struggles, he said.
“I think you’ll see counties in general with the same concerns,” Knutson said.
The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee will be combing through the budget and making changes in April, said Phil Boutwell, assistant to the county administrator.
The county will lobby the committee and state lawmakers to restore county funding, he said.
Rock County Board members also were encouraged to call lawmakers, Boutwell said.
Restoring the money will be a challenge given the state’s budget crisis, but the county has hope, Boutwell said.
The Legislature is expected to review the budget in May, he said. It could be approved in the summer.
Mar 29, 2009 at 8:33 a.m.
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y dont all ya just say we all are getting the shaft with the big end of the stick.we know where the money goes we just have no control of it and we dont like it .
Mar 29, 2009 at 2:35 a.m.
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carlitosway, note that state revenue support is based on a formula that has property values as a primary factor and population as a secondary factor. Neither Dane County nor Rock County are singled out for individual treatment, rather, the difference in property values and population between the two counties is what drives the percentage change.
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Also, individual municipalities (all separate line items) will see drastically different drops in support for the same reason. Middleton is losing 12%! Janesville is only losing 1.2%.
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These numbers are aggregates of different funding programs that have different target populations to begin with. For instance Beloit already gets three times as much money as Janesville, likely a direct result of its higher poverty rate.
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Anyway, I just didn't get why you decided to make this a competition between two counties. With state revenue falling, everyone is going to feel some of the pain.
Mar 28, 2009 at 6:29 p.m.
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carlitosway, you better try counting with your socks off, my link is to the State's web site with the actual numbers.
Mar 28, 2009 at 4:47 p.m.
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I happen to know off-hand, money being wasted here, with unneeded probation officers, unneeded pshychiatric care for someone who is more stable than our governor! This is costly. It goes on and on. The state doesn't know when to let go.
Mar 28, 2009 at 2:38 p.m.
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http://www.madison.com/wsj/blogs/Politic...... all counties broken down
Mar 28, 2009 at 12:20 p.m.
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carlitosway, where do you get your numbers. The reduction in "Shared Revenue" from the State is -4.3% for Madison and -6.8% for Dane County. The reduction for Janesville is -1.2% and Rock County -0.7%. Janesville and Rock County are coming out way better than Madison/Dane County under the Governor's proposal.
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/Misc/20...
Mar 28, 2009 at 11:04 a.m.
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Well it is time to petition the government for 40 acres and a mule. I believe we are still entitled to that under some old law.
Mar 28, 2009 at 11 a.m.
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woody: I agree with you. Lots of people have lost their jobs and there are more to come. And now this happenning with Rock County. And people still seem to think that we need a Junior Hockey League and tunnel. Unbelievable!
Mar 28, 2009 at 10:52 a.m.
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unknown only IMO during election time do they support us and when election is over well ITS here in black and white.....
Mar 28, 2009 at 10:50 a.m.
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janesvillian Madison cut is .08 Janesville cut is .90 so I guess there is a little difference and the county as a whole is higher then Dane county I read your site by city and county and the people here get the shaft again!!!!!!
Mar 28, 2009 at 10:38 a.m.
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Jvlln To see the amounts compared to capita we are being slammed and I can most likely say Madison won't see near the cut!!!! IMO
Mar 28, 2009 at 10:20 a.m.
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carlitosway, Dane County will be hurt as well. We're not singled out -- this is a change to the funding formula for all counties statewide.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/blogs/Politic...
Mar 28, 2009 at 9:13 a.m.
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Hey! It's a good thing we are going to have a ice rink though! And a tunnel!
Mar 28, 2009 at 9 a.m.
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As if Rock County hasn't been hit hard enough. Might as well apply the killing blow.
Mar 28, 2009 at 1:53 a.m.
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The elderly and kids will be hit the hardest And that is the sad part as they IMO are the most important as to care and need.
Mar 28, 2009 at 1:37 a.m.
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How about Madison Dane county take a hit once. We have the highest unemployment rate and this moron is going to cut Rock county. I would like to know how much Dane County is going to lose. How much more can they take from the people with little to none? I use to think Doyle cared about people but he seems to be one of those that are only out for their selves and their near to home community. what a turn coat he turned out to be. IMO IMO..... At least if he decides soon the people already struggling will have warm weather to pitch their tents and cardboard boxes. It is pitiful that those who have never been their can talk crap and then take take take. Well some of us have no more to give to the takers and I am one of those. I am so angry with one or two people making the call on the lives of people who have lost their jobs or worked for low wages and could not afford to build a nest egg for the future. I got hurt at work and they are fighting my workmans comp. I was notified I am one of the people being let go at my company, my doctor refuses to let me go back to work I have had to get an attorney ( he said they can drag out wk comp cases for a long time)and today I was given notice to move as im behind a month in rent and have no resources left and I know there are many more like me out here in Rock County and this idiot is trying to do this. I hope Rock County lobbys and fights back as this community has had its share of struggles and losses. What is Milwaukee CO. unemployment rate? How many major companies closed there? I use to have faith in this guy but his recent actions have really opened my eyes and a vote lost here. Just my opinion. When it rains it pours and Rock Co. is chest deep and getting deeper,,,,
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