Letter: Raise taxes to help children

Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002 | 9:10 a.m.

To the casual observer, a 3 percent cut in the state budget does not sound like much.

Fortunately, Sun reporter Adrienne Packer is not a casual observer. In her well-written and in-depth article on Aug. 29, "Abused kids face bleak future with budget cuts," she points out that emotionally disturbed children will "go without counseling, treatment or medication due to drastic budget cuts in Nevada's child welfare system."

Packer notes that one-shot programs that affect adoptions and foster care services for Clark County will be cut by 42 percent. She also notes that the Kinship Care program will take a big hit. This worthwhile program assists grandparents who are raising their grandchildren -- without the Kinship Care program these children could end up in foster care (a much more expensive program).

I agree with state Sen. Ray Rawson, who said that such cuts are why Nevada ends up on the bottom of lists that rate social services. The state should not be cutting the social services budget at all, especially in light of our growing population.

Gov. Kenny Guinn should find the cuts in other areas. Then, in the next legislative session, lawmakers should do the right thing and raise taxes to provide adequate care for our children.

LIZ MOORE

Editor's note: The writer is Southern Nevada coordinator for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.