As the stalemate over sequestration continues in Washington, D.C. concerns over potential cuts here continue to grow.
Many lobbying groups are in Washington right now trying to lessen the impacts of possible cuts. That includes the National Association of Counties. And Washoe County Commissioners are there talking with Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller.
Once the federal cuts are handed to the states, they will be passed on to the counties. And officials at both the state and the county level are concerned.
"I do think people are underestimating the impacts of sequestration," Nevada State Treasurer Kate Marshall says. "I mean we are just turning the corner on this economy. And now we could be hit with this! I think people aren't really seeing the impacts.
County Manager Katy Simon has overseen a nearly 30% cut to funding in Washoe County over the past 5 years. She says the kinds of cuts being looked at now will be painful.
"Citizens depend on us to run programs that support them and their families and to keep them safe. And cuts at the level they are looking at now are making it harder and harder to do that."
Meantime, both Marshall and Simon are hopeful that some kind of progress will be made in Washington before money actually runs out on March 27th, to avoid the cuts as much as possible.
Written by Erin Breen
