Nonprofits reel under weight of recent budget cutbacks

Whether or not Gov. Frank O'Bannon's budget cuts are necessary may not the biggest issue on everyone's mind around the community. But its effect on the nonprofit organizations throughout the state will be immense.\nThe governor said last week that $247 million would be cut for funding from Build Indiana Fund programs. \n"I have no choice but to do whatever it takes to address the immediate needs of the budget," the governor said in a news conference last week.\nMany nonprofit organizations are going to be affected by one branch of state funding called the Build Indiana Fund, which allocates gambling revenues to special projects. But the people behind these projects are not looking for cash to buy luxury items. In some cases, it is as simple as having a clean place to run a program that enhances the community.\nGirls, Inc., an after-school and special event program, is one such organization.\n"Because of the way the building was built, we have bird feces coming in," said Karen Jones, executive director of the Monroe County Girls, Inc. "This is a health concern. We won't be able to work on a problem like that for awhile now."\nJones said she and her staff are used to making cutbacks. \n"A lot of times we don't turn on the heat until the girls get here," she said. "This money was going to help us. There are going to have to be more cuts."\nBut Jones said she is not angry. No matter what Girls, Inc. must do to keep operating, Jones said they will do just that. The girls who come to her center, she said, will not feel the belt-tightening that is happening under the surface.\n"Stomping my feet won't help anything," she said. "We try not to involve the girls at all in this. They don't know what is going on."\nWonderLab, the hands-on science museum for children, broke ground for their new building last week. It faces losing part of an appropriated $80,000 from the Build Indiana Fund. Executive Director Catherine Olmer is not planning on stopping any major plans.\n"It is my understanding from talking to legislators that the money will come eventually," she said. "We are still in the process of fundraising. It's a shame that these funds are being used for political purposes. But I will say I trust that the legislators will do the right things and find a way to solve these problems without having to cut these programs."\nIt is not just children's programs that are anticipating the axe. Ryan Bruce, the general manager of WFHB community radio, said the expected money the station could lose will be a major hit to its growth.\n"We're really a grow-in radio station," he said. "These funds were going to take us to another level. Without it, it cripples a lot of that."\nBut Bruce's attitude is much like that of other community organization leaders -- disappointed, but accepting.\n"Did we expect it? Sure. Are we surprised that it came down to politics? No," he said. "When you look toward funding, especially from a government entity, you have to know its politics. To ever think we were assured it is not smart business."\nOther organizations on the cut list include Bloomington Parks and Recreation, the Monroe County Humane Association animal shelter project, several fire departments and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.