ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. -
Sequestration, or widespread spending cuts by Washington, has hit our area.
At the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging, staff say they recently received bad news.
"That we would get a 5.5% reduction in federal funds and that to us amounts to $85,000," says John Barbour, the agency's executive director.
Barbour says his organization helps some 10,000 Vermonters through programs including Meals on Wheels.
"We are not trying to strike fear in people's hearts. We're not going to make any dramatic cuts immediately," says Barbour.
Barbour says for now they'll find ways to save money but all their programs will suffer if federal funding is not fully restored.
In Burlington, the cuts haven't quite hit the schools but the district is preparing for them.
"We have to take action now," says Jeanne Collins, Burlington Superintendent.
Collins says because of contract rules they have to decide by Friday if certain jobs might be cut next year. Collins says so far one teaching job has been targeted because of sequestration.
"We're hopeful that some type of deal will still be cut," says Collins.
For now Collins says she must prepare the district for a cut of $365,000 that will impact special education and other programs.
"We're looking at the possible loss of summer school, reduction of liaisons, it's going to be a significant hit," says Collins.
The superintendent says that could mean cutting up to 40 other jobs. Though this is the worst case scenario and some of those cuts could be reversed depending on what Washington does.
