Lumbee Tribe hit by 1.7 Million Dollar Budget Cut
Over the last few months we have heard rumors about cuts in our NAHASADA or housing funds. In anticipation, we have been preparing for the worst case scenario and that’s why we’re here. We have received confirmation of a 1.7million reduction from our current funding which is 15% and I know of no other organization or business that could still function as usual with such a loss. In response I will evaluate each department which will cause a temporary interruption of tribal services and programs.
While I will start with the Rehabilitation program, I want to also stress that I will apply this procedure to ALL tribal programs. To minimize the temporary interruption of services to the tribal members, I will alternate between programs, so that members can still have access to services and programs. I want to absorb as much of this 1.7 million dollar reduction in administrative cost and not reduce tribal services.
Effective Monday, June 2, the Emergency Rehabilitation program will stop accepting new applications, and the Rehabilitation program will award no new homes to any contractor. All current projects shall be completed and closed out. I do not have any timeframe for this re-structuring and re-organization to last; it saddens me to have to lay off tribal employees and to have tribal program inaccessible to tribal members.
However, as Tribal Chairman, I will do my best to find solutions to balance this upcoming budget, while continuing to provide and maintain our current level of services to the tribal members. In order to do that, some tuff calls are going to have to be made; I stand willing to meet the challenge ahead of the tribe in regard to our budget needs, and while this might cause tribal members and employees some difficulty, I must act in the best interest of the tribe as a whole and I believe in the end we will be stronger by taking these critical steps. Thank you and good day. |
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Tribal Chairman, Jimmy Goins reaffirms his commitmint to the tribal membership during this tough budget cycle. |
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