$6 Million taken from KIDS NOW programs!

The budget that was recently approved by the legislature will impose major cuts totaling $6 million a year to KIDS NOW, a critical part of Kentucky’s early care and education system.

Governor Beshear has until April 14th (next Monday) to veto the parts of the budget that will impose these cuts. We must let him know that this loss of funding is unacceptable!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Support KIDS NOW Dollars!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Please continue your support for Kentucky's early care and education programs by exercising your line item veto on the budget items that transfer money from the Tobacco Settlement Fund to the General Fund. The Tobacco Settlement money is a critical part of the funding for KIDS NOW. Using these funds for purposes other than to help Kentucky's youngest citizens is unacceptable.

Thank you for your support of quality early care and education!

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 08, 2008

Background Information

Here is a break down of the dollars that would be lost without the Governor's veto:

· $175,000 loss to Mental Health Services in each year of the biennium.

· $4.2 million loss in the first year and a $4.4 million loss in the second year to Public Health.

· $75,000 loss to Human Support Services in each year of the biennium.

· $1.5 million loss in the first year and $1.8 million loss in the second year to Community Based Services.

These dollars fund vital programs such as HANDS home visitation, which is proven to decrease the incidence of child neglect and abuse, increase child health and well-being, and stabilize at-risk families. Also losing money would be the child care subsidy, the tool that allows low-income parents to work and provide a better quality of life for their families, and the STARS quality rating system that elevates the quality of child care in the Commonwealth.