A state fund that cares for veterans upon their return from service is in trouble. The state should make every effort to ensure the fund remains solvent.
The Veterans Trust Fund faces bankruptcy by 2013 without new state money or large spending cuts. The fund crisis is caused by a shifting economy and the largest group of returning state soldiers in a generation.
The state's Veterans Affairs Department passed a proposal last Thursday that would send $8 million in taxpayer dollars to the program in the 2009-11 budget.
Yes, that's more money that would have to be found in a tight state budget that's going to be difficult to create, while taxpayers are tired of paying more every year.
But the fund has been self-sustaining since 1943. Cuts have been made to veterans programs, as early as 2004 and 2005, to keep the fund out of bankruptcy.
So far, however, the fund has only delayed its demise.
Without the new money, that demise would come in the next couple years.
The fund helps ongoing veterans programs, including loans, health care and education grants. Without the money, new state programs to help returning soldiers with serious physical and mental wounds would not come to be.
State Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos and other state officials have done all they can to keep the fund's finances in shape, including cutting administrative costs, spending on education grants and eliminating duplicate costs.
With the last biennial budget, Veterans Affairs sought $14 million in taxpayer money to boost the fund, but received only $500,000.
This time, Scocos sought $24 million, but only got approval for $8 million.
"Let's not debate this for three years. We've got to do it now," Scocos said. "We're going to lose a generation of veterans."
That would be a shame. Lawmakers and Gov. Jim Doyle should make it a priority to get the fund the money it has asked for. Eight million dollars is a drop in the bucket. Our veterans deserve more, and better.
The Veterans Trust Fund faces bankruptcy by 2013 without new state money or large spending cuts. The fund crisis is caused by a shifting economy and the largest group of returning state soldiers in a generation.
The state's Veterans Affairs Department passed a proposal last Thursday that would send $8 million in taxpayer dollars to the program in the 2009-11 budget.
Yes, that's more money that would have to be found in a tight state budget that's going to be difficult to create, while taxpayers are tired of paying more every year.
But the fund has been self-sustaining since 1943. Cuts have been made to veterans programs, as early as 2004 and 2005, to keep the fund out of bankruptcy.
So far, however, the fund has only delayed its demise.
Without the new money, that demise would come in the next couple years.
The fund helps ongoing veterans programs, including loans, health care and education grants. Without the money, new state programs to help returning soldiers with serious physical and mental wounds would not come to be.
State Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos and other state officials have done all they can to keep the fund's finances in shape, including cutting administrative costs, spending on education grants and eliminating duplicate costs.
With the last biennial budget, Veterans Affairs sought $14 million in taxpayer money to boost the fund, but received only $500,000.
This time, Scocos sought $24 million, but only got approval for $8 million.
"Let's not debate this for three years. We've got to do it now," Scocos said. "We're going to lose a generation of veterans."
That would be a shame. Lawmakers and Gov. Jim Doyle should make it a priority to get the fund the money it has asked for. Eight million dollars is a drop in the bucket. Our veterans deserve more, and better.
