Feeral budget cuts will be felt in Franklin County

            Some of Franklin County’s neediest residents may soon start feeling the impacts of federal budget cuts.

Dorothy Inman Johnson, chief of the Capitol Area Community Action Agency, said Franklin County will see some big cuts in social services starting in October.

Miss Johnson said both the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Community Service Block Grant will be cut by 50 percent.

The block grant goes to all states to help the poor; Franklin County’s portion of that will fall to 29 thousand dollars next year.

That will lower the level of service residents can expect from the Community Action Agency in regards to transportation, utility bill and rent assistance.

Miss Johnson said the group will keep both of its local offices open but may have to cut hours of operation.

Another program that will be drying up next February is a 1.4 million dollars stimulus program to provide weatherization for elderly, disabled and low income residents.

That program has not only helped low income homeowners but also 24 general contractors who have benefited from the work the stimulus money provided.

Commissioner Bevin Putnal said that the county making some of the same hard choices this year but the board did agree to write letters of support to Senator Bill Nelson and Congressman Steve Southerland asking that the funding be protected as much as possible.

Those letters will also contain the request that Franklin County get its fair share of any money coming to Florida.

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