VERGENNES, Vt. -
Every day that goes by, there's more worry about whether you and I will have to pay more in taxes come January first. No surprise here, still no deal. The deadline is the end of the year. Today, the President reinforced he's optimistic. Even though he doesn't want to sign anything that doesn't include an increase for wealthy Americans. Republicans so far, aren't budging. One thing we know for sure... This decision on the fiscal cliff will impact a lot of people, not only through finances, but through non-profits that people use every day.
Organizations such as LIHEAP, Outright Vermont and Food Banks.
Non profits all across the country are going to feel the pinch. In Vermont alone there are four thousand of them, and one of those we took a closer look at today shows the impact the fiscal cliff will have on the Boys and Girls Club in Vergennes.
Money from the government that it's relied on in the past is going to be cut by $70,000.
Imagine it's three o'clock, the Boys and Girls Club in Vergennes would be swarming with kids.
"We see about 40 kids a day," Mike Reiderer, Executive Director of the Club said.
It costs about $275,000 to keep the club running, a big chunk of that comes from the federal government.
"The last couple of years we received a hundred thousand dollars and this year, we just got notice that it's going to be $30,000 so it's a big hit," Reiderer said.
A 70 thousand dollar hit that will wipe out programs, staff, and maybe even kids.
"We are looking at closing down our youth center," Reiderer said.
The Vermont Community Foundation President says sadly , no matter which way the fiscal cliff pans out, cuts at the federal level mean cuts all across the board, tax increases on the middle class mean fewer donations... same thing with tax increases on the wealthy because there wouldn't be tax incentives. So even with uncertainty looming, non profits know they're getting the ax.
"It's our future here, it's all we got are kids, I mean after we go, hopefully the next generation is good or better," Boys and Girls Club Board President Ed Biello said.
So in the meantime, like non profits do, they're looking to the community to make it through.
"Hoping that everybody can chip in and minimize the impact," Reiderer said.
Biello says, out of all the programs the teen center is one that really has to stay because the kids that it serves are at such a critical age.
"A lot of our members come from challenging family backgrounds and the club can really provide a good safe place for them to grow and develop," Reiderer said.
The Boys and Girls Club says cutting this funding could have long term effects on communities, by not having prevention programs for kids.
What you can do, is donate your money or time to your favorite nonprofit.
