OLYMPIA – In a move to save additional dollars in the biggest budget crunch in Washington’s history, Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, announced that the Naselle Youth Camp would remain funded under the Senate budget proposal released today.
“Naselle Youth Camp plays a crucial role in rehabilitating these kids in a cost efficient way. The camp is the best place for them and putting them into the traditional justice system would have devastating effects,” Hatfield said. “Any savings from closing NYC would have come at a cost the 19th district could not afford”
With Washington facing its worst financial crisis in state history, the Senate budget introduced today was full of billions in program cuts, and included nearly $3 billion in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Also in the budget is a proposal to close the Green Hill School in Chehalis to help close the nearly $9 billion budget shortfall. Closing Green Hill and keeping Naselle Youth Camp open actually achieves a net savings of approximately $ 2.4 million in 09-11 biennial budget.
“Closing the Youth Camp would have completely devastated Naselle. We know that there are a lot of places to find savings in a huge budget like ours, but closing the camp would have destroyed the lives of hundreds of our friends and neighbors in Pacific County,” Hatfield said. “I’m glad we were able to protect the facility and still balance the budget.”
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For more information: Chase Gallagher, 360-786-7326
For interviews: Sen. Brian Hatfield, 360-786-7636