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Child advocacy center asks Wetumpka for $3,000 as VOCA funding falls
Summary
A representative of the local child advocacy center told the Wetumpka City Council that Victims of Crime Act funding has dropped and requested a $3,000 increase from the city for the next fiscal year to avoid cutting staff and delaying services.
Emily (last name not provided), a representative of the local child advocacy center, asked the Wetumpka City Council during public comment on July 21, 2025, for a $3,000 increase in municipal support for the coming fiscal year, saying federal Victims of Crime Act funds that the center relies on have declined.
Emily said the center provides forensic interviews and free therapy to children who are victims of abuse and that recorded interviews are used as evidence for law enforcement and in court. "I wanna thank the city of Wetumpka for supporting our agency for a number of years, and we are so grateful for that," she said. She added that the agency is asking the city for an additional "$3,000 for next fiscal year."
The request was framed around reductions to federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding. Emily said the center has seen a roughly 30% cut in VOCA funding since 2019 and is anticipating a further 10%–25% reduction next year. She characterized VOCA as federal funding administered through state agencies and described it as funding derived from fines and penalties rather than general tax revenue.
Why this matters: the center’s services include forensic interviews that law enforcement uses as part of investigations and therapy for children who have experienced trauma. Emily warned that a substantial cut—"If we see a 25% cut next year, we'll have to let staff go"—would slow the scheduling of forensic interviews and delay access to therapy.
Council action: the request was delivered during the public comment portion of the meeting; the council did not take a vote on municipal funding for the center at this meeting.
Context and next steps: Emily asked municipalities across the agency’s service area to consider additional support. She said the center is reaching out to local governments to make up funding shortfalls if VOCA reductions materialize. The council did not make a decision on the request during the meeting and did not establish a next step on the record.
Ending: The center’s plea highlighted the ripple effect of federal grant reductions on local services for children; any council response or budget change was not recorded at this meeting.
