Governor Deval Patrick on July 12 announced his veto of 58 earmarks under the Workforce Training Fund, including the elimination of the Commonwealth’s $900,000 investment in AmeriCorps programming. In FY07, this critical earmark leveraged over $10 million in federal grants.
I believe that the Governor and the state legislature share a deep commitment to AmeriCorps and to service and volunteerism in Massachusetts. In his original budget proposal released in February, the Governor included state funding for AmeriCorps. Likewise, the joint state Legislative Conference Committee report released in June contained funding for the AmeriCorps earmark.
The veto, however, has a very serious impact on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, resulting in the loss of $10 million in federal grants and the elimination of 22 AmeriCorps programs that address critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. In addition, the Commonwealth would lose the contribution of 1,200 AmeriCorps members and 16,605 volunteers who provide more than 1.3 million hours of service annually. Using Independent Sector’s recent study of the value of volunteer time, this would amount to a $24 million loss to the Massachusetts economy.
The development of a state budget is a complex process,” said Nancy Korman, Massachusetts Service Alliance board member and former board chair. “We hope that the Governor and legislature will work together to protect AmeriCorps funding in Massachusetts by finding a quick resolution that represents the best interests of the people.”
As someone who lives in Mass, and has done not one but two years of service with AmeriCorps programs I can tell you that this is a foolish act on the governors part. AmeriCorps programs change the lives of the communities they serve as well as the members that serve in them. It also is a super cheap way to get a lot of work done. Please contact any elected official in the Mass. government and tell them to overrule this veto. If not the programs that make thousands of people lives better every year could be gone.