If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
ELDORADO, Raid, aftermath's early cost: $7.5 million
ELDORADO
Raid, aftermath's early cost: $7.5 million http://www.statesman.com/news/conten...radocosts.html Senate panel to examine expenses of largest child removal in U.S. By Corrie MacLaggan AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Friday, May 16, 2008 The massive child welfare operation that began in early April with a state raid of a West Texas ranch owned by a polygamous sect cost nearly $7.5 million in the first 19 days, according to records from Gov. Rick Perry's office. A spokeswoman for Perry cautioned that the numbers — obtained through the Texas Public Information Act — are preliminary and unaudited, and Perry's office has yet to release official costs. But the numbers do reveal clues about the financial impact of what Texas officials have said is the largest removal of children in U.S. history. Expenses have ranged from housing and feeding more than 400 children in shelters in San Angelo to busing them to foster care around the state. And the costs are likely to grow; it could be a year before Child Protective Services and the courts sort out whether the children — removed because of what state officials say is a pattern of abuse — can return to their parents. "Everyone recognized that resources were going to be necessary in order to achieve a fair outcome here," said state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, whose district includes Eldorado's Yearning for Zion Ranch, owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Duncan is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which will examine Eldorado expenses during a Capitol hearing Tuesday. Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick have authorized state agencies to spend money from their 2009 budgets early to cover costs of the operation. What's still not clear is how the agencies will be reimbursed. One option is for agencies to tap into money left unspent at the end of the budget year; another is for the Legislature to make an emergency appropriation at the beginning of the 2009 session. "Often times when you have emergencies like this, that's how you handle it," Duncan said of making an appropriation next session. City and county governments are submitting expenses to state agencies. State Comptroller Susan Combs told Dewhurst, Craddick and Perry in a letter that she plans to work to "utilize funding allocated in the current state budget to cover the allowable emergency costs." But some government officials aren't sure what "allowable emergency costs" include, and that's making them nervous. Tom Green County Treasurer Dianna Spieker said: "We're operating under faith" that the county will be reimbursed. She said last week her county had spent $70,000 on everything from overtime for law enforcement to paying the road and bridge department to set up barricades. State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, a member of the finance panel, said the operation is largely a state responsibility. "We should reimburse local agencies as soon as possible for any action they have taken that is state responsibility," she said. Technically, many of the court costs are the responsibility of the counties, but state leaders say they plan to use state money. "We can't wash our hands from it — we're the ones who did it," said state Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, a member of the Finance Committee. "I hope it turns out it was the right thing to do." Some lawyers who volunteered to represent the children are now wondering what they've gotten into financially. Susan Hays of Dallas, an attorney for a young girl, said she's spent nearly $1,000, mostly on gas to visit her client in East Texas and the client's mother in San Antonio. "We were all told it was a one-day hearing," she said. "My case is now spread out all over the state. The Legislature is going to have to do something." State agencies incurred the bulk of the $7.5 million — $5.3 million. Stephanie Goodman, a spokeswoman for the Health and Human Services Commission, said her agency is reviewing Eldorado cost estimates from the state health department and Child Protective Services to make sure they are additional costs incurred because of the operation. A draft document from the governor's office showed that the Office of Court Administration projected in late April that court costs for the civil and any criminal cases could be about $1.8 million, including everything from expert witnesses to jury pay. Glenna Bowman, chief financial officer for the office, said Thursday that the next draft of her estimate will be closer to $2.2 million. "We're trying to look into our crystal ball," she said. State agency costs Department of Family and Protective Services $2,174,302 Health and Human Services Commission $1,045,656 Department of Public Safety $970,000 Department of State Health Services $930,563 Other state agencies $191,828 Total state agency costs $5,312,349 Volunteer organization costs Salvation Army $51,302 Other $8,251 Total volunteer organization costs $59,553 Vendor costs Bus costs $633,736 Baptist Child & Family Services $527,236 Wells Fargo Pavilion $10,100 Total vendor costs $1,171,072 City and county government costs City of San Angelo $820,000 Tom Green County Not available Schleicher County $81,607 Other $42,727 Total city, county government costs $944,334 TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS $7,487,308 Source: Governor's Division of Emergency Management preliminary, unaudited estimates ; 445-3548 CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED LIBERTIES & CIVIL RIGHTS ON A DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPPING PROGRAMS.... CPS Does not protect children... It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even killed at the hands of Child Protective Services. every parent should read the free handbook from connecticut dcf watch.. http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US These numbers come from The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN) Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS *Perpetrators of Maltreatment* Physical Abuse CPS/Foster care 160, biological Parents 59 Sexual Abuse CPS/Foster care 112, biological Parents 13 Neglect CPS/Foster care 410, biological Parents 241 Medical Neglect CPS/Foster care 14 biological Parents 12 Fatalities CPS/Foster care 6.4, biological Parents 1.5 Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per 100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a bunch of social workers. CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON... BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION... |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Toward a 'third way' for the children of Eldorado,By Johana Scotand Richard Wexler | fx | Foster Parents | 0 | May 14th 08 06:16 AM |
Toward a 'third way' for the children of Eldorado,By Johana Scotand Richard Wexler | fx | Spanking | 0 | May 14th 08 06:12 AM |
Review: The Great Raid (****) | Steve Rhodes | General | 0 | August 7th 05 08:03 PM |