The organization was able to keep 19 AmeriCorps service members, but five people set to start later this month are having their positions cut.
POLK COUNTY, Iowa — Polk County Conservation is losing $272,678 after the Trump administration made major cuts to AmeriCorps, a federal agency providing volunteer opportunities. It’s a part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to reduce government spending.
Community outreach supervisor Jessica Lown said the organization was left with a tough choice when funding was cut.
“We had to look at everything from burn it all down, to find a way to keep everybody,” Lown told Local 5.
Lown said Polk County Conservation ultimately decided on a middle ground. A total of 19 AmeriCorps members will finish out their current term, thanks to alternative funding sources. However, five people set to start later this month are having their positions cut.
“Having to cut those positions is about 11,000 staff hours for us that we’re not going to have access to this year,” Lown said.
Other staff members will now have to help with habitat restoration and trail maintenance in the AmeriCorps members’ absence.
“We’re having to reassign staff that work full time, or even part time for Polk County Conservation itself, not AmeriCorps service members, and figure out how we’re going to reshuffle them to cover some of the gaps,” Lown said.
With five fewer people on hand, some projects scheduled for this summer may be cut entirely.
“This is going to be an impact to us all, unfortunately, by losing some of these folks,” Lown said. “We are committed to being transparent with what happens next and making sure that everybody in the public knows how we’re going to proceed.”
Polk County Conservation will continue planning for next year, as if there will be federal funding. The organization is putting together contingency plans in the event that funding doesn’t return.