Paid for by Citizens for Colburn Committee. Authority John W. Phillips, Jr., Treasurer

Dorchester youth services
February 20, 2005
Star Democrat

Thank you, concerned constituents, for writing to me about the Dorchester Youth Services Bureau. I have received an abundance of e-mail and faxes about this. There is a bit of confusion about what is currently happening to these programs. I will try to explain the situation as best I can.

Funding for these programs is level funded with the current year, however, no one is guaranteed any funding in Fiscal Year 2006. That is not to say that there will not be funding or that these programs will no longer exist. What will actually happen in FY06 is that programs will have to compete with other programs in their local area for the money.

That means, if there are two programs doing the same thing, preference will be given to the one that is doing a better job of accomplishing its goals. By preferring the more successful organization, the youth of any jurisdiction in the state are assured access to proven, successful programs. If a program is the only one of its kind in the area, then it should receive the funding.

This is not an attempt to cut services. In fact, the money will still be there. This is merely an attempt to help our youth even more by sending them to the best and most effective programs in their area.

RICHARD F. COLBURN,