If the sequester happens on Friday as expected, the deep cuts in the federal budget will reach the neighborhood level in Pleasanton and other communities.
If a congressional compromise isn't reached, $85 billion will be cut from the federal budget over the next year.
In California, it's expected there will be $87 million in education cuts as well as reductions in federal funding for environmental, public health, child care and other services.
Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) wrote via, email:
The automatic across-the-board budget cuts known as the sequester threaten our fragile economy and will have real consequences, to real people in the Fifteenth Congressional District. In my district alone, schools will lose $11 million in federal funding. It also means 225,000 jobs put at risk across California, 9,600 fewer low income students in California receiving aid to help them finance the costs of college, and the loss of approximately $5.4 million in funds that provide meals for seniors.
That’s why I co-sponsored a bill, H.R. 699, that would replace the sequester in a balanced manner with smart spending reductions and new revenue from multimillionaires. It is the height of irresponsibility to let these cuts go into effect, and it is my hope that we reach a solution that will reduce our deficit and strengthen our economy.
At the local level, schools will probably be the most affected.
The Pleasanton Unified School District faces potential cuts as deep as $1.1 million slashed from $14.3 million in federal aid.
Head Start programs across California will receive less money. It's estimated 8,200 would have reduced access to services.
The cuts could also reduce the hours at federal offices.
Police departments in California are expected to lose $1.6 million in Justice Assistance Grants that support programs such as crime prevention, drug treatment and witness support.
Pleasanton City Manager Nelson Fialho wrote, via email:
"We get very little funding from the federal government to fund City operations. While we do rely on federal grants to fund some of our social services, the aggregate amounts is less than $300k. It is unclear whether this annual amount will be impacted by the sequester. I am more concerned with the impacts on the local economy, namely with residents employed at the labs and small businesses doing work for the two national laboratories. Which could affect our local economy."
Finally, job assistance programs are expected to receive $3.3 million less in federal funding. That would affect about 130,000 job seekers.
