President Donald Trump’s budget proposal raises concerns among some local officials about the way it would affect Weld County

March 19--After the 2013 flood left parts of Weld County devastated, volunteers in programs that benefit from federal funds played a vital role in recovery.

The Trump administration's "America First" budget proposed last week has some local officials worried those funds -- and money for programs that benefit residents across the county -- might not be available next time they're needed.

Jeannine Truswell, president and CEO of United Way of Weld County, gave the example AmeriCorps, which could be on the chopping block. She said one volunteer played an important role after the flood. A retired colonel in Windsor applied for the program when he read about an opening, she said. He served as a Volunteer in Service to America.

"Without his work as a VISTA during the time of the flood, we couldn't have responded in the way that we did," she said.

The budget proposes eliminating the Corporation for National and Community Service, the independent agency that hosts AmeriCorps. That's just one of numerous agencies and programs the budget eliminates, in order to offset increases in defense and veterans affairs spending. Other agencies would face major cuts, including a 21 percent decrease in spending for the Department of Agriculture, a 13 percent decrease for the Department of Education and a 31 percent decrease for the Environmental Protection Agency. Budget Director Mick Mulvaney told reporters Thursday it's "a hard power budget, not a soft power budget."

In a statement released with the budget, Trump said it's the right budget at the right time for the nation.

"To keep Americans safe, we have made the tough choices that have been put off for too long," he said.

While Congress ultimately will make the final decision about spending, here's a look at some of the ways the proposed budget could affect Weld.

Education

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which funds before- and after-school programs for students in high-poverty schools is one of several programs in the budget's crosshairs.

Michael Seefried, the Greeley-Evans School District 6 coordinator for the 21st Century Grant, said the programs have been critical for the school district.

"It's definitely showing that we're getting growth out of our students. Students are more engaged. There are relationships being built between the students and the teachers through the program," he said.

One 21st Century grant is set for three more years of programming at Northridge, Prairie Heights and Centennial. Another ends this year.

"We just hope that something will continue to be available or we can continue to offer these services to our students for the before- and after- school program," Seefried said.

Volunteer programs

Truswell said that AmeriCorps volunteers have been vital to alleviating poverty in the county.

Over the 10 years United Way has hosted the AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America program, volunteers have raised $3.2 million and recruited 27,000 community volunteers for local nonprofits.

United Way has more than 50 different program sites where they place AmeriCorps volunteers, including Greeley-Evans School District 6, the Poudre Learning Center, Habitat for Humanity, the Global Refugee Center.

"In addition to impacting those communities across the nation, and certainly here in Weld County, it is a phenomenal job opportunity and job training program," Truswell said.

AmeriCorps volunteers that have worked at United Way of Weld County have gone on to head Youth Homelessness for the state of Colorado, work for the Department of Local Affairs and, in Truswell's son's case, work for Denver Public Schools.

"I think the program not only has this concrete impact on poverty and helping alleviate poverty, but it also is building our nation's future leaders," she said.

Disaster Recovery

The Community Development Block Grant program, another program the budget would eliminate, helped the Weld residents recover after the 2013 flood.

Tom Teixeira, director of the Greeley-Weld Housing Authority, said Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds helped provide roofs for some.

"They were critical to basically assisting people. We got to provide two years of rent assistance for people affected by the flood; we got to replace some mobile homes and homes that were completely damaged by the flood," Teixeira said. "These funds are very important recovering from the 2013 flood."

The Community Development Block Grant program also provides funding for Meals on Wheels. In response to criticism for cutting funding for Meals on Wheels.

Mulvaney defended the cuts as necessary, noting the government "can't spend money on programs just because they sound good."

Agriculture

The budget included a $4.7 billion reduction in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's discretionary spending, at a time when farmers and ranchers are suffering with low crop and animal prices.

David Schemm, a Kansas wheat farmer and president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, said the association isn't entirely happy with the budget.

"While we're pleased that this budget outline doesn't include any cuts to crop insurance or Title 1 farm programs, we are very concerned about the impact that the deep discretionary cuts, particularly at USDA, will have on wheat farmers across the country," Schemm said in a news release.

Republicans praised the proposal's increases for the Pentagon, but they were less enthusiastic to accept Trump's plan for doing so without adding to the nation's $20 trillion debt.

"While we support more funding for our military and defense, we must maintain support for our farmers and ranchers," said North Dakota Republican John Hoeven.

Congress will have the final say on the budget, which received grudging praise at best from Trump's GOP allies.

"Congress has the power of the purse," House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey said.

-- Fence Post editor Rona Johnson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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