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date: November 3, 1989 <br />for immadiato rolewe <br />Contact: Marcy Shapiro <br />920- 5533 <br />COUNTY CUTS TO HAVE STRONG IMPACT ON SUBURBS <br />Suburban Hennepin County has been targeted for severe <br />budget cuts by the Hennepin County Administrator in his <br />plan for the 1990 Hennepin County bud _-c. Hennepin County <br />must eliminate over $8 million from its Community Services <br />Department budget in order to meet levy limitations <br />recently imposed by the State Legia].:-iture. <br />As the myth continues that there are no social problems and <br />that there is no poverty in sub•.irban areas, west Hennepin <br />County is at risk of slipping further behind in the human <br />services delivery to its residents. Currently suburban <br />areas represent 60% oe the population of Hennepin County <br />but receive a much smaller proportion of human services <br />programs. The first ring western suburbs are beginning to <br />echo the demographic trends and human services rseds seen <br />in the inner city of Minneapolis a decade ago. T.e second <br />and third ring more rural communities also havt- needs for <br />services, which include easier access to services and <br />programs. <br />In the proposed ,iennepin County budget, six es:. .ial <br />programs that provide direct services and are located in <br />the west Hennepin area have been proposed to be eliminated. <br />They are: Hennepin County Outreach and Referral, Relate <br />Counseling Center, the Walk-in enter at Perspectives, <br />Vinland National Center, Senior Community Services, and <br />West Hennepin Community Center. Advocates say that these <br />cuts will lea-e our residents with severely limited acce5s <br />to services. This will lead to unmet needs; to a more <br />overworked county staff; and ultimately to to more <br />expensive services and more institutional care. <br />Another targeted cut .-'z'ch directly impacts on the west <br />suburban a.-�a is the W,.-_ Hennepin Human Services Planning <br />Board. This agency was formed by west suburban cities and <br />Hennepin County through a joint powers agreement in 1973. <br />The agency serres <br />wait hennepin human itrvicei planning booed <br />4100 vernon avenue youth. it. lovit pack. minntiota 55410 <br />