Literacy Volunteers Urges Lawmakers: Don’t “Close the Book” on Literacy!
March 30, 2010
Literacy Volunteers Urges Lawmakers: Don’t “Close the Book” on Literacy!
Budget proposals cut Adult Literacy Education (ALE) Program by 32 percent. As they are working to close New York State’s deficit for FY 2010-2011, Governor Paterson and state lawmakers are considering a 32% cut to community based literacy programs, including funding for Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse.
“More than 20% of New Yorkers and at least 24% of adults in Syracuse do not have basic literacy skills. The current poverty rate is nearly 31%. The economic climate is forcing adults in our community to learn new skills and seek job training, and we have seen an increased demand for our services. This is the wrong time to cut funding for local literacy programs!” said Marsha L. Tait, director of Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse.
Current budget proposals would cut more than $2 million – or approximately one-third of state funding to Literacy New York and other literacy assistance programs around New York, in addition to a $612,000 cut in the 2009-10 Deficit Reduction Plan (DRP). For Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse specifically, these proposals would mean cuts of more than $20,000 next year, severely affecting our ability to provide literacy instruction to adult students. Adults in Onondaga County will not receive the services they need to help them compete in today’s job market and to take care of their families in these difficult times.
“Every year volunteers in Onondaga County give their time to help others improve their lives through literacy,” said Tait. “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the value of this contributed volunteer time is approximately $6.5 million across NY State. We are asking the Legislature to restore this funding in order to leverage this investment. We are not looking for a hand-out.”
