All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews Jim Crotty about The Boys and Girls Clubs of America announcement of deep cuts to its Twin Cities programs. The organization is facing a budget shortfall of nearly $300,000, after a reduction in the amount of individual and corporate contributions. The seven clubs in the Twin Cities will operate four days a week instead of five and every employee will take a 20% pay cut.
Crotty is president of the The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities.
SPEAKER 1: Because the economy is the way it is, I think corporations are doing what they can. They're all facing their own layoffs, and they're all facing salary freezes and things like that. So there really is not enough money in our two cities right now, I think, to fund all the needs that exist.
SPEAKER 2: Is it possible to make up some of the shortfall with adding more volunteers?
SPEAKER 1: Well, we certainly have a board of directors that are on the case, so to speak. People are working extremely hard. Our year ends at the end of August. And right now, we're looking at perhaps a $300,000 shortfall. And we can't go into our new fiscal year with a deficit. So yes, it's possible if with help that we could retire that deficit prior to year end. And that's certainly our goal. But we're struggling.
SPEAKER 2: Boys and girls clubs have been around for 75 years. How do these cuts compare with previous shortfalls?
SPEAKER 1: Well, I have been doing this for 25 years, and this really is the worst financial or fundraising climate that I've seen in that time.
SPEAKER 2: How did you decide where to make the cuts?
SPEAKER 1: Well, what we're trying desperately not to do is to close a club or two. We have seven clubs. And a big part of what we do is it's important to us to be building-centered, to be in a community, and to be in a community for a long time. And rather than close a club, we made the decision to just from my position as the president of the organization, throughout, to go to 80% of pay. So it's spread evenly among everyone.
SPEAKER 2: You just had a chance to speak with employees. What were their biggest concerns about the cuts?
SPEAKER 1: It was actually an amazing response by employees, I think. We have over 100 people working for the boys and girls clubs in the Twin Cities. And they understand what we're up against and they just agreed that each of us would do our part to get through this because we are indeed like one big family here, because we're working with some-- we're working in some tough neighborhoods. We're working in areas where a lot of people really simply don't go. And it's a great group. It's a great group of people. And they're going to do everything they can to see this through.
SPEAKER 2: Do you worry these cuts will be compounded by social service reductions in Governor Tim Pawlenty's budget bill?
SPEAKER 1: Well, I think by the time the legislators create the new budget, we will probably be hearing the story maybe over and over again. It's unfortunate because this is a time where I really believe the Boys and Girls Club should be stepping up to take care of the kids that will have fewer programs to access, particularly over the summer, but throughout the school year as well. And we're just simply because of finances, not in a position to do it. So yeah, I think the problem is going to get worse before it gets better.
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