"Wait and See" Heineman Costs Taxpayers Another $3 Million
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2007
Contact: Eric Fought
(402) 434-2184
eric@nebraskademocrats.org
Wait and See Heineman Costs Taxpayers Another $3 Million
LINCOLN, Neb. – In this morning’s edition of the Omaha World-Herald the paper disclosed that the adolescent mental health program at the Hastings Regional Center is operating with just one patient. The program’s highest enrollment in the past five months was six patients. And yet, Governor Heineman and the Republicans in the Unicameral continue their “wait and see” approach to this and other issues facing the state.
The youth program at the center has a $3 million annual budget, employees 16 direct care staff and “nearly 70 clinical, administrative and support workers it shares with a separate youth program at the Hastings facility.” [Omaha World-Herald, 11/28/07]
“Leadership requires that you act swiftly when problems such as this are identified,” said Matt Connealy, Executive Director of the Nebraska Democratic Party. “Our state’s services for children are in great need of reform and $3 million would go a long way in such a process.”
The Nebraska Democratic Party today calls on Governor Heineman to take immediate action to stop such wasteful spending of taxpayer funds and improve service delivery at the Hastings Regional Center.
“While all of Nebraska’s children deserve top-notch care, allowing this program to remain in operation for just one child is an absolute disgrace,” said Connealy.