Politics & Government
SEQUESTRATION: Locals Prepare for the Worst, Hope for the Best
As $85 billion in sequestration spending cuts looms ahead, locals are making contingency plans for their budgets, in the event the cuts go through.
With only days to go before the sequestration deadline hits, locals are making contingency plans for their budgets, in the event the cuts go through.
Funding for education in New Jersey would be slashed by nearly $30 million and drastic cuts made to health care programs and environmental protection should Congress fail to halt $85 billion in spending cuts scheduled to take hold March 1, the White House said Sunday. The federal government would also save $75 million by furloughing 11,000 civilian military contractors, and another $59 million by cutting funding to military bases.
In Stafford Township, school district spokeswoman Karina Monanian said that the district is in the process of preparing their budget right now - as it is scheduled to be introduced March 21 - and has drawn up three proposals, which includes scenarios for cuts as high as 20 percent.
Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
She said since the state figures for education funding are typically released after they prepare the budget, drawing up three plans for a budget is a standard protocol.
"Obviously we are all awaiting the Governor's speech planned for later this week," which will discuss state aid figures, Monanian told Patch. "We always start out hopeful, but prepare for the worst."
Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Local Coast Guard officials are also looking closely at where cuts can be made in the event of the sequestration, Capt. Kathy Moore, the commander of Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia, told the crew at the Barnegat Light station at an event held here recently.
"We are working on evaluating where to make cuts if sequestration takes effect," Moore said. She declined to elaborate further, referring questions from a Patch reporter to the press office at national headquarters.
The total federal spending cuts would be about $1.2 trillion over the next nine years. Republicans have accused the president of using the impending cuts for political gain.
President Obama's plan asks for increased tax revenues to offset some of the trillion-dollar cuts.
