A coalition against domestic violence said Wednesday that the budget impasse has caused shelters to discontinue services for abused women.
In his January proposed budget, Gov. Jim Doyle called for a $1.9 million increase for domestic violence programs, and the Joint Finance Committee unanimously supported the figure with bipartisan support.
As the budget negotiations currently stand, the Senate's version approves all the funding, while the Assembly version approves about $620,000 of it, according to Josh Freker, policy director of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
If the budget conference committee does not approve the $1.9 million '¦ this could literally be a life or death matter for domestic violence victims who rely on local-level services,"" WCADV Executive Director Patti Seger said in a statement.
The budget stalemate has already caused the only residency program in Menominee County to close down this week and turn away women seeking shelter from their perpetrators, according to the coalition.
Freker said in rural counties like Menominee, programs rely heavily on state funding because there is less of an opportunity to raise private money compared to a county like Dane.
""The programs are just stretched to the limits,"" Freker said.
In 2005, over 40,000 victims used domestic violence services at the nearly 100 different program sites throughout the state. They have not seen an increase in state funding since 1992.
