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Funding squeeze: victim-services director warns of VOCA cuts and unstable special funds
Summary
Center officials told the committee that federal VOCA grants and state special funds that help support victim services have declined or are volatile, putting community programs at risk and creating staffing and service uncertainty.
Jennifer Pullman, identified herself as the director with Vermont Technical Financial Services, and Carol Broscher, director of finance and administration for the center, told the Judiciary committee that victim-services programs across Vermont rely heavily on federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants and on state special funds that are funded by fines and surcharges — both of which are unstable and at risk of sharp declines.
Pullman told the committee the center oversees dozens of subgrants, provides technical assistance and that the unit is small: “We are that weird state agency that nobody really talks about. We have, 19 employees, 2 of whom are full time,” she said, describing a high administrative burden for a small staff. Pullman said the center administers victim compensation and restitution…
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