Social Services Advisory Committee makes its case for level funding

DUMMERSTON — The town's Social Services Advisory Committee is requesting level funding for the fiscal year that starts on July 2014.

According to Cindy Jerome, reporting for the committee at the Dec. 11 Selectboard meeting, $10,350 is needed to help 17 requesting social service organizations meet vital needs affecting residents of Dummerston.

“There are several organizations we wished to give more money to, but there were none that we were willing to recommend less be given to, in order to keep the bottom line at no change,” Jerome said.

She explained that this time next year the committee likely would make a case for increasing its request in line with what many would consider reasonable and responsible for the town to provide for its most vulnerable residents.

She told The Commons the money this year is going to the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, the Drop In Center in Brattleboro, Brattleboro Area Hospice, Brattleboro Senior Meals, The Current bus service, Dummerston Cares, The Gathering Place, Grace Cottage Hospital, Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Vermont, Morningside Shelter, Green Mountain RSVP & Volunteer Center, Senior Solutions, Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA), the Visiting Nurse & Hospice Association of Vermont and New Hampshire, Windham Childcare Association, Women's Freedom Center, and Youth Services.

Jerome, a former longtime town Selectboard member, and member of the Social Services Advisory Committee since its founding four years ago, suggested to The Commons that Dummerston gives notably less than what towns of similar size and organization give, on average.

“That's the case with the great majority of these organizations: we're giving less. It's pretty black and white,” she said. “So we're going to pull that data together and see if it's compelling to the Selectboard: that if enough of them decide, at least slowly over time, to increase the amount that they're willing to let the advisory committee divvy up.”

According to Jerome, in FY 2010 Dummerston gave $14,150 to requesting social service organizations; that figure was reduced in FY2011 to $10,250, bumped slightly in FY12 to $10,500, then reduced in FY13 to $10,350, where it remains.

Jerome was joined at the Selectboard meeting by fellow committee members John Sommer and Sara Ryan.

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