Orange County charities may face funding cuts

Orange County Commissioners said Thursday they're committed to donating more than $1 million to charities in the coming fiscal year.

At least so long as it's possible.

Meager revenue projections from sales and property taxes have slimmed down next year's budget.

The county might have to reallocate funds and staff to maintain core services at the expense of others. And donations to nonprofits aren't exempt.

Commissioners allocated $1568"413 to a number of charities this fiscal year.

""It's important that we not promise"" Commissioner Alice Gordon said. We don't know how bad it's going to get.""

Commissioners do have a sense of how bad things are now" though.

Staff have asked all departments to prepare preliminary 10 percent budget cuts" which could mean optional programs like Veteran's Services and job training at the Skills Development Center could go.

But most commissioners seem committed to keeping up donations to charity even as they make cuts in other areas.

The board has made it clear that ""safety net"" programs that provide food"" shelter and housing are a priority.

Many of the nonprofits the county funds are organizations that offer those services.

""I don't care how bad it gets in other departments"" Vice Chairman Mike Nelson said.

I want to protect that one million. That same dollar amount from last year will be stuck to.""



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