Budget cuts this legislative session cut deep into the budget of the Caring Communities. This year, the program benefitted from an $18-million budget. But when the new fiscal year begins in July, the budget will be trimmed to $13-million. Dee Joyce Hayes, the Chief Executive Officer of The Family and Community Trust – which operates the Caring Communities program – says cuts were expected, but not $5-million worth. She says too many lawmakers this session did not see the worth of the program that funnels money from five different state agencies into local community health, education, and job service programs.
