WOODLAND — Agencies serving young children in Yolo County will have a lot less money to pay for their programs starting in July. The First 5 Yolo Children and Families Commission announced it has slashed more than $1.3 million from its 2011-12 fiscal year budget in response to AB 99, which was passed recently by the Legislature and signed by the governor.

AB 99 requires First 5 commissions across California to send $1 billion to the state by June 30, 2012, to help balance the budget. This results in a $2.5 million loss for First 5 Yolo.

First 5 Yolo responded to this demand by making internal cuts and by reducing appropriations by 5 to 30 percent for a range of programs funded under its Integrated Family Support Initiative.

“To further preserve funding, the commission shortened the length of its strategic plan from seven to six years, terminating at the end of fiscal year 2013-14,” said Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor of Davis, who chairs First 5 Yolo.

“By shaving off a year of guaranteed funding for partner agencies, the commission was able to reduce the level of program cuts for the next three years. However, the loss of the seventh year of planned support will hamper long-term programming for Yolo County children.”

First 5 Yolo reduced the agency’s internal operating budget by $166,601 per year for the remaining three years of the Integrated Family Support Initiative. This was accomplished through a combination of reduced staffing, savings on its building lease and purchasing of fewer supplies and program materials.

In addition, commissioners decided to fund only proven, existing programs and to curtail funding for new, innovative projects. As a result, First 5 Yolo was forced to withdraw its financial support of the CARES Plus Program and, for the first time, has eliminated its flexible funding through community grants.

Funded programs and services affected by the cuts beginning Friday include health insurance outreach and enrollment, home visiting for at-risk first time mothers, early learning and parent support programs in rural Yolo County, oral health and nutrition programs, perinatal substance abuse treatment programs and child care quality enhancement programs.

Programmatic cuts were made in the amount of $283,710 for each of the next three years. The total amount of reductions made internally and externally is $450,311 per year.

“First 5 Yolo and our funded partners are facing significant challenges as we adjust to the reality of new budgets and reduced resources,” said Julie Gallelo, executive director.

“However, our funded partners continue to work hard, to collaborate more and to figure out how to do more with less. We are lucky to have such amazing providers in Yolo County.”

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