The county's Democratic majority released a detailed listing of organizations to be included in the partial restoration of funding for human services.

The budgetary plan the county delivered to the Nassau Interim Finance Board late last month provided for $1 million in 2000 and $2.5 million in 2001 to be redistributed to human service contracts. Yesterday's announcement outlined a 33.5 percent across the board increase in funding for each of the included contracts in 2000.

"We have to be vigilant to ensure that in our effort to cut wasteful spending we don't cut into the spine of this county," said Judy Jacobs, presiding officer. "We have to be sure that when all is said and done we still have a county that is living and breathing."

According to Jacobs, the restorations were made possible by identifying areas within the county infrastructure where savings could be made.

"We [Democrats] could not live with those cuts. It became an integral part of our approach to budgeting. That is what prompted it. We approached the entire remediation re-budgeting process with this in mind as something that had to be addressed.

She continued, "This was our fight, this is something that we clawed to get, but if we did not have the support of the Republican legislators and the county executive it would not have happened."

Many of the organizations that were negatively impacted by the cuts made in late 1999 were skeptical and unsure of the proposed restorations, even after the money was included in the county's revised budgetary plan and this week's announcment. Susan Skaflestad, executive director of the Mineola Youth and Family Services, stated that she is encouraged by the announcement, but over the past year she has learned to not accept anything as a sure thing.

"This certainly looks like it has become more of a reality," said Skaflestad. "But I don't want to bank on it because anything can change from day to day."

The Mineola Youth and Family Services is like many of the other local organizations throughout the county that cater to the needs of young people and were hurt by last year's cuts.

Thomas Bruno, executive director, Hicksville Youth Council, stated that he is confident his organization will see some restored funding, but is not sure to what extent.

"We have been through a lot over the past year, and an increase in funding will certainly help, but it will not solve all of our problems," said Bruno.

Over the past week the need for a local community youth service program was never more evident than when several young people from Hicksville sought comfort following the tragic death of their friend, 15-year old Toniann Connell. She had perished in a house fire when she re-entered her burning home to save her dog.

The staff of the Hicksville Youth Council was available throughout the week following the tragedy to offer counseling and treatment.

"It is really difficult for 15- or 16-year old kids to lose one of their friends like that," said Bruno. "The services are just so needed. We are the only agency in town that does this for nothing. Everyone else has a sliding scale."

Jacobs touted the need for the services that these organzations offer, but tempered that with the new-found realization that the county can no longer be their sole benefactor.

"I think this has been a wake-up call for everyone here, the human services included, ...I personally believe that none of these agencies should rely solely on the county for discretionary funding," said Jacobs.

Since funding was slashed late last year, youth organizations across the county have been forced to find funding from secondary sources, such as the corporate community, and have been met by varied success.

"We have certainly been trying to secure other funding since the cuts were made in late 1999 and we have seen some success," said Skaflestad. "But certainly not enough to make up for a $100,000 loss."

The $2.5 million in restored funding that has been marked for 2001 will be used to further fund these human service organizations and to preserve the county's day care salary enhancement program.