SAN JOSE, CA – Two powerful local nonprofits have come together to help Santa Clara County navigate its way toward a balanced budget without sacrificing fundamental health and human services that sustain working families and the community at large.
The Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, representing 200 non-profit health and human service organizations, and the Service Employees International Union Local 521, representing 10,000 county employees, are united in seeking solutions to the county's budget crisis – real solutions that would preserve services as well as jobs .
"We believe we have solutions that will keep our community from sliding deeper and deeper into an unsafe and unhealthy place," said Patricia Gardner, Executive Director of SVCN. "Behind every cut is a human toll. We need to re-think our priorities as a community."
WHAT: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Meeting
WHEN: 9:30 a.m., June 9
WHERE: 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose
There is no question that demand for services is up at both county facilities and non-profit agencies. Vital frontline services keep youth out of juvenile hall, drug and alcohol addicts in treatment, and patients out of emergency rooms through preventative healthcare.
We urge the county to re-examine its budget options. One immediate solution is to tap into its contingency funding, which was created for one-time emergencies. The emergency is here.
Longer-term strategies include:
- Pass a ballot initiative to generate local revenues
- Re-assess uses of county properties and renegotiate leases and contracts
- Seek creative funding to move the county toward green technology
Santa Clara County faces a $270 million budget deficit. Budget hearings begin June 15.