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San Francisco faces the loss of
almost $8 million in federal AIDS funding in the fiscal year beginning July 1,
and another $10 million the following year. Such deep cuts to Ryan White
efforts and CDC prevention programming would threaten care, say city officials
and service providers. San Francisco received $41.8 million from the two
federal programs through the current fiscal year ending June 30.
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration
to say that restoring these funds is a matter of life and death,” said Mike
Smith, head of the AIDS Emergency Fund and president of the HIV/AIDS Providers
Network in San Francisco. He and others are lobbying the city for financial
help with the cuts. Three city supervisors from the LGBT community - Scott
Wiener, David Campos, and Christina Olague - also have made it a priority.
In January, Mayor Ed Lee authorized
a $1.8 million budget supplemental to backfill earlier cuts to Ryan White
funding through the current fiscal year. San Francisco itself spends more than
$70 million annually for HIV/AIDS services, said Greg Wagner, budget chief for
the city health department.
The city has a projected $170
million deficit for the new fiscal year and a $312 million gap the following
year. Lee must by law submit a balanced budget, which is due out June 1.
“The mayor is very aware of and
concerned about Ryan White Care funding cuts, and he is working to protect
these programs and services,” said Christine Falvey, Lee’s spokesperson. The
mayor is working to find a solution, she said, but he “is also trying to close
a $170 million budget shortfall.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
