Nine area non-profits, which provide essential services in the area, were in danger of losing 50% of their funding through the proposed 2025-26 EC County Budget. Thankfully, in a meeting this week, most of that funding has supposedly been reinstated (updated documents have not been posted). BUT there are some things to still consider.
Below are some facts, JONAH’s response, and what you can do to support. YOU ARE NEEDED!
Facts:
(from EC Leader Telegram)
Eau Claire County’s 2025 proposed budget has been released, with large funding cuts (50%) to nine non-profit organizations which provide Health and Human Services to the community.
These programs:
- Augusta Senior Center
- Bolton Refuge House
- Children’s Service Society / Children’s Wisconsin
- Family Promise (initially $0 as they did not submit a funding request, will get some funding now)
- Family Resource Center
- LE Phillips Senior Center
- Project Lifesaver (program no longer exists)
- Sojourner House
- Chippewa Valley Museum
County Administrator Kathryn Schauf explained the decision, “When we were beginning our budget process, our expenses exceeded our revenue by $5.2 million,” she said. “We typically attempt to fund what they put forward, (but) we were not able to do that because of our revenues.”
Nancy Coffey, County Board Chair, explained that the decision was largely forced upon the county due to state statute mandates and fixed tax levy amounts in the state.
(Note that it is not mandated that a county cover these services, but Eau Claire County decided for several years this was important for our community to do so. This sudden change from expected large funds, however, has immediate impact.)
See full budget report on the County website here: https://www.eauclairecounty.gov/our-government/government-resources/2025-county-budget-information
Impact:
(also from Leader Telegram)
Family Resource Center – Dr. Jennifer Eddy, a medical doctor and executive director of The Family Resource Center in Eau Claire, one of the nonprofit organizations that would be affected by this cut, said she was sympathetic but felt the county was failing to consider the long-term costs of such a move. “In the last week we were responsible for two seminars on positive parenting,” she said. “Positive parenting has been shown to reduce child abuse and neglect. You know, we’ll pay for it. It’s (whether or not) we are going to pay now or are we going to pay later after families experience trauma or neglect or abuse?”
Bolton Refuge House – Pat Stein, executive director of Bolton Refuge House, said that she too understood and appreciated the financial constraints of the county and recognizes that government mandated programs required by law had to take priority. “We’re not a mandated service,” she said. “I think the thing is, though, that it still comes down to the fact of recognizing that they get a pretty good bang for their bucks here. It is like $7.50 a night lodging for an individual and that’s for them to receive food, basic needs, shelter, access to laundry, internet — all those kinds of things.” She continued, that without this funding, “our shelter could be forced to close their doors, and sadly, there are many shelters in the State of Wisconsin that have throughout the last two years. Many of them are no longer doing shelters.”
Sojourner House (From Catholic Charities letter in response to the cuts) “As stated in the message from the county administrator, ”the budget process maps a strategic work plan while assigning dollar values for services provided.” By decreasing the funding amount by 50% you are telling EC County residents, especially those experiencing homelessness, that basic human needs like shelter and food are not of value.” – Roberto Partarrieu, Executive Director
Also in the letter, Partarrieu shared that since the closure of HSHS hospital their budget has continued to increase in response to the need. As funding to cover that need decreases they will not be able to serve as many unhoused residents, leaving many with no shelter or food.
Senior Center: (statement acquired directly) “Senior centers provide important affordable services for our older citizens, who often lack access to needed support for living skills and health. Fitness options, social connection, and technology assistance are benefits of senior centers that are vital to ability to meet basic needs and live successfully as an older person.” – Pat Garber, Director of Visitation Ministry for Trinity Lutheran Church and parish nurse
What JONAH thinks this means:
These essential non-profit services need our support: Regardless of whether the majority of these funds have been returned, these non-profits are not out of the water yet as 1) EC County Board Supervisors can make amendments for further cuts, 2) the restored funding may still not be enough to keep them out of potential program failure, and 3) and future plans to cut or remove funding MUST include these non-profit agencies in discussion. Overall, the value of these non-profits must be defended and protected in the November 6 EC County Board hearing for the November 7 vote.
Preventative Cost Argument: Cutting funding from preventative services like these often increases future costs in areas like healthcare, law enforcement, and social services. Investing now is a cost-effective measure for building a stronger, more resilient community.
Economic Impact: Funding for marginalized groups often circulates back into the community, stimulating local business and reducing reliance on emergency services. Supporting these non-profits is an investment in the community’s economic health.
Ethical Stewardship: Every community member deserves safety, opportunity, and support. It is within the EC County Board’s mission to support vulnerable residents and supporting these non-profits carrying out that mission is a matter of ethical stewardship and compassionate leadership.
Community’s Shared Values: A commitment to care for the marginalized reflects the community’s foundational values. All of us, especially the EC County Board of Supervisors and community stakeholders, should consider the values we hold and then uphold them.
JONAH’s mission
JONAH, Joining Our Neighbors Advancing Hope, exists to deepen relationships within and among faith communities and partner organizations to empower people in addressing the roots causes of social injustice in the greater community.
We must rally together in order to support the missions and marginalized populations supported by these non-profits.
We recommend the EC County Board to restore the current funding, and include the agencies in any conversation moving forward, and any future changes should occur over a longer period to not inhibit the non-profit’s ability to carry out programs.
Call to action
We are asking anyone sharing these concerns to:
- Read through the below talking points and form your own personal statement. These are more powerful.
- In person comment is stronger: Attend the next County Board meeting on November 6 at 7:00, in the EC County Board Room, and speak against these changes. If you are making public comment in person, you need to be in attendance to sign up and they will call you up in order–you are given 3″ and they will stress to not repeat the same message (again, personalize). Also bring a print out of your statement to submit.
- Send comments to the County Board, before Nov 6 7pm, through this online form: https://www.eauclairecounty.gov/Home/Components/FormBuilder/FormBuilder/1ee88f3780fe46d6b04bb128069b130e/12242
- Keep an eye on the Meeting agenda, comment period notes, and link to attend virtually: https://www.eauclairecounty.gov/our-government/county-board/meeting-agendas-minutes
Talking Points
Dear EC County Board,
I am contacting you regarding the proposed county budget that cuts 9 non-profits funding by 50%.
While I understand the majority of these funds may have been restored, I ask that you fully restore them and include the agencies in any future budget conversations so as to ensure these programs continue in the community. The consequences that will follow the loss of these services would be extremely expensive to our community.
Many of these agencies work with marginalized populations who are less likely to be able to speak up for their need. These non-profits will struggle to survive with thinning financial resources availability. The work of these agencies upholds the mission of the EC County Board, which is “To provide quality, innovative and cost effective services that safeguard and enhance the well-being of residents and resources.”
All of these non-profits provide prevention measures by supporting social determinants of health, specifically: homelessness support, recovery, early child development and parent education, and mental health support through community connection for seniors.
It is crucial to note that early prevention is fundamental in a community’s health, and the “cost” of not paying for prevention will result in increased law enforcement costs, DHS costs, ER visits, EMS calls, and on and on. When you cut direct services, prevention decreases, and we move towards crisis intervention with all those added costs.
A 2024 report from the American Journal of Preventative Medicine speaks to the long-term cost savings to these preventative services. They did a 2022 study in partnership with 13 multisector community partnerships. The results of that study show, “Over 20 years, social determinant of health interventions implemented by the 13 multisector community partnerships can potentially prevent 970 premature deaths and avert $105 million in medical costs and $408 million in productivity losses. The 20-year cumulative results show potential net costs of $38,300 per quality-adjusted life- year gained from the healthcare sector perspective and indicate potentially reduced costs and improved health outcomes from the societal perspective.”Source: Cost-Effectiveness of Social Determinants of Health Interventions: Evaluating Multisector Community Partnerships’ Efforts https://www.ajpmonline.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0749-3797%2824%2900256-3
I ask that you reinstate those funds fully, and to work with these agencies to ensure their essential programs are able to continue to be carried out. Our community’s health depends on it.
Sincerely,
Name
Address