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Sequester Could Cut Job Assistance in Mesa County

by KREX News Room
by John Dias

Story Created: Feb 26, 2013 at 6:50 AM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 26, 2013 at 6:50 AM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- Officials at the Mesa County Workforce Center are preparing for a mighty big cut that could be coming their way.

In less than a week, automatic spending cuts known as the sequester will take place, unless congress can agree on a solution.

If they fail to meet the March 1st deadline, that impacts many, including citizens here in the Grand Valley. If you're one of the numerous people out there unemployed, assistance in obtaining a job is one of the categories that could get hit hard.

“It will definitely be a challenge to the Mesa County Workforce Center,” said Suzie Miller, of the Mesa County Workforce Center. “We are kind of taking the conservative approach here and preparing a budget for a 10 percent decrease.”

If sequestrian were to take effect, the workforce center could see a total of up to $100,000 in slashes, with certain programs seeing anywhere between $60,000 and $65,000 in cuts.

This is would lead to cut backs in resources like the Workforce Investment Act that provides training to the unemployed.

“Here locally, we are in kind of a fragile state in hoping that the economy is going to improve but we are still seeing a high unemployment rate,” said Miller.

With an unemployment rate of 8.6 percent, which is higher than both the state and nation, some folks are concerned this possible sequester will greatly hinder their ability to obtain a job.

“I have been looking for a job for a year,” said Jay Battles, Grand Junction resident.

Battles hasn't had much luck over the years finding a job in Colorado, and fears he may have to leave the state yet again to seek employment.

“I was able to work for 4 months out of the state,” said Battles. “That was the only job that year that amounted to anything.”

Officials say at any given time, there's between 9,000 and 10,000 job seekers actively searching in their data base.

“Its going to be a huge loss to our job seekers, our resident of Mesa County if we're not able to provide some of those services or provide some of those residents with the training that they might need,” said Miller.

Officials add it will take some time to evaluate where these cuts are coming from and how they will address where they are applied.

Unless congress acts, $85 billion in cuts will go into effect Friday.

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Disgusted said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 6:57 AM

Wow. Elections have consequences. How about that?

Floyd said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 8:03 AM

Since the dems gained control of congress in 2007, they have spent 7 TRILLION dollars. We have seen only government jobs created with the promise of permanance. There have been only temporary jobs in the private sector, a nation can't exist on temporary work. What will happen when all the money thrown into the system for the purpose of getting a re-election comes to an end? Obama has proven he can only run a nation into debt, nothing more.

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 9:00 AM

"Story Created: Feb 26, 2013 at 5:50 AM MST" This is applicable title. This information was created. It is not fact. There is nothing in the sequester bill that say's exactly what will be cut. These people are all listening to the lying politicians and believing every lie. When will they learn, a politician cannot or will not tell the truth.

FEAR CENTER - GOVT MEDIA MACHINE said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 9:34 AM

Cut Wages and Bennies - From the Top To the Very Bottom !

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 9:35 AM

Better a child starve than Obama remove one name from his predator drone kill list.

Nancy said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 10:25 AM

Finally some cuts. Unfortunately the republic will be blamed.

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 10:26 AM

And it will happen because the failure of the repubs and the tea billys refuse to comprise.

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 11:26 AM

5 enlightened comments, then we get 2 assigning blame to political parties....hmmm?

Sam said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 11:48 AM

To Anonymous at 10:26 AM and one who offers nothing to the discussion. You must be from the party of no. You do understand its the republicans failure to compromise is causing this.

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 12:05 PM

Sam, I understand you are just as guilty as the r and d actors on the national stage. Not only do you offer nothing, you active seek to derail it by blaming an entity playing a predetermined role. Google 545 people. These guys could print that money out of thin air, cut a few people off obama's drone kill list, eliminate wasteful spending, heck even forgive some debt. Yet it never happens. All so the theater can be nationally played out and easily led dullards like you can finger point and cheer your team on.

I want to Compromise said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 12:06 PM

All of you compromisers out there, I want to compromise. Give me $1,000 !!!!

Sad Fact said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 12:11 PM

Unlike this propaganda piece, a sad fact is that about 40% of Mesa County's money comes from Federal grants. Another way of looking at that is that Mesa County is 40% too fat. (46% of Federal spending is borrowed money. This "world ending" sequester is 3.5% Can any of you geniuses do the math and figure out how much more the Federal government would have to cut to just get to a balanced budget? And if 3.5% is "the end of the world", what would that look like?) The only thing more pathetic than this "news" piece is the collection of comments.)

Nancy said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 1:42 PM

Blame Obama, it was his idea!

Putting this in perspective said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 3:28 PM

Colorado might lose $68 million from the evil sequestration. The Colorado Democrats are going to lose $85 million by driving Magpul out of the state with their do-nothing gun laws. (I'd post the link, but KREX wouldn't want you to actually see real news.)

Real Reform said on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 4:50 PM

This is all Obama's idea. He finally needs to grow a set and take responsibilty. But he isn't going to, he will blame who ever he can and all the stupid Obama zombies will believe him. "All hail king Obama!"

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