By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
9-5-2009

The shockwaves of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s $500 million in line-item vetoes to balance the state’s lopsided budget are making its way to Inyo County.
Among these blue-penciled items were $50 million to programs that help keep seniors in their homes and offer assistance to caregivers. This has led to the demise of one Inyo County program and one being left in critical condition, though still alive.
“It breaks my heart,” First District County Supervisor Linda Archularius said Friday, adding that while the services may disappear, the need remains.
One program which offers respite for caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients, the Friendship Center, was cut to the bone and the complete elimination of the program seemed imminent. However, the United Methodist Church in Bishop, which operates the program, has offered to supply rent-free space to the program that will keep it above water, but cash is still needed to keep it afloat and on course. To try and meet the need, the Center will have a booth and fundraising raffle at this week’s Tri-County Fair.

The program that  was cut completely was the Linkages Program, which helps seniors and the disabled stay in their homes. One shining light on this otherwise dark horizon, is that county staff and administration will be able to offer employment to those whose positions will disappear with the program.

Health and Human Services Director Jean Turner said Tuesday that due to the county hiring freeze there are several positions open that the two employees also qualify for.
“But this doesn’t minimize the impact of losing the program,” she said.
Archularius added that the two employees are, “Caring, loving individuals or they wouldn’t be doing this kind of work, and now they feel like they’ve let their clients down.”
The Linkages Program is a community based service, funded by the California  Department of Aging. Sarah Ludeman, public information officer for the department, said the program is still alive “on paper” but the funding has been completely cut.
“There’s no word of re-instating the program, not in the foreseeable future and not in the current economic state,” Ludeman said.
“Once a program gets cut, the start up costs are very high,” Archularius added, and maybe impractical.
The Inyo County Board of Supervisors took up the subject at its meeting Tuesday, calling the elimination of the Linkages Program and the Friendship Center’s Alzheimer’s Day Care, “A total wash for the county.”
Fifth District Supervisor Richard Cervantes said Wednesday, “We, the board, are committed to taking care of those people that need the service. The county will do its best to keep an eye on these people just as the service did.”
The Methodist Church is stepping up as well, officially offering space at its compound to the Friendship Center, according to Pat Calloway, the Center’s director. The Center and Alzheimer’s Day Care were originally at the church.
She added that the move is contingent on whether the Center can get out of its current building lease on South Street.
In early August when Calloway was first notified of the cuts, she said she was thinking positive that another door would open. On Wednesday she said, “I’m not disappointed. I’m very happy to be able to continue offering this much needed program.”
Chairperson for the Friendship Center advisory board, Sharon Brown said she wanted to make sure people don’t get the wrong idea that the program is going away. “We’re still going to be open with the same advisory board and staff.”
Calloway said she is very grateful to the church, but the Center still needs to raise $7,000 in the next nine months to cover payroll and taxes, food supplies and marketing.
“We’ve cut everything we could, but we’ll still be able to offer the service,” Calloway said.
The Center does charge a fee that will keep the doors open, but, Calloway said, more funds are needed.
The Friendship Center will have a booth at the Tri-County Fair with a fundraising raffle and great prizes. Tickets are 15 for $10.
Calloway added that donations are still being accepted for prizes, as are donations to the Center.
Calloway is looking at grant options and other fundraising ideas and said that personal donations are always gladly accepted and can even be made in someone’s honor.
The county is trying to hold up its end, by dealing with the state’s budget debacle and trying to continue to offer the services county residents expect.
Cervantes said he has faith in the 2009-10 budget drafted by County Administrator Kevin Carunchio and staff. He said even in the face of the massive cuts from the state, the budget is balanced. One way the county is doing this is by not filling positions of retirees.
Archularius said what frustrates her about the state budget balancing acts, is the long-term ramifications, and lack of consideration for the people in the programs and the cost to the them and tax payers. “Linkages provides a service to allow individuals to  remain healthy and productive in their own homes,” she said. “Without these services these people will most likely need a higher, more expensive, level of care.”   
Inyo is not in a unique position, since the balancing of the state budget has been a matter of passing the buck to counties. And now, funding to counties has been cut and the responsibility of watching and caring for those most in need has been handed to communities, churches and families.
The same churches, organizations and loved ones that are already cash strapped in this recession and fighting to provide for themselves as well.
“We’re in the same shape as many rural counties,” Cervantes said. “But, we’ll muddle through this and move on to the next thing.”
Cervantes said there has been no discussion of partnering with neighboring counties to try and fill the gaps, but he said everything’s on the table and the board is open to discussion with anyone.