LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) -
The future of jobs, military support
and health services have been hot topics when discussing the sequester in
congress.
"If the sequester stands for a long
period of time we will gradually see some cuts and those will go deeper and
deeper as time goes, Sharon Shaw, Administrator, Angelina County Health
District."
Angelina County Health District
Administrator Sharon Shaw says over time the automatic cuts will have a major
impact on the services the health district offers to the community on a day to
day basis.
"Vaccines may be more expensive or harder
to get also some of our preparedness activities will be hampered by less
funding," said Shaw.
SFA Political Science Professor Ken Collier
says the military is the most heavily impacted by the sequester but says East Texans
can expect to slowly feel the presence of the cuts not only in public health
care but in schools, law enforcement and potential jobs.
"We will see a number of smaller cuts
that will gradually take away some of the spending and jobs we would have seen
locally," said Collier.
Shaw says minor cuts within the next
six month and grants renewed at a lower level will mean less funding across the
board for adult's and children's health care.
"We're hoping to maintain levels
as usual and closely watching grants," said Shaw.
Texas will potentially lose over two
million dollars in funds for public health threats and over six million dollars
in grants to help and prevent substance abuse.
Nationally WIC will also endure budget cuts
but local officials say because of previous cuts, local chapters won't be affected
right away.
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