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Equal Opportunity Commission warns proposed $78,697 cut would hinder case processing
Summary
The Equal Opportunity Commission told the Appropriations Committee that a proposed $78,697 general‑fund reduction—described by the governor as an eliminated position whose duties were absorbed—would in practice remove an intake unit director and substantially increase case processing times, reduce federal funding eligibility and impair operations.
Paula Gardner, executive director of the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission, told the Appropriations Committee the agency has operated with a lean staff for years and that a proposed general‑fund reduction of $78,697 would not be a minor savings but would meaningfully impair its ability to investigate and resolve discrimination complaints in a timely way.
Gardner disputed language in the governor’s book describing the position as "no longer necessary," explaining that the intake unit director performs critical supervisory functions (over investigators and intake operations), manages the case management system, oversees jurisdictional reviews and completes thousands of customer contacts annually. "This is the leanest we have ever been and every position is tied directly to our statutory mission," she said.
She described recent unexpected cost pressures — steep insurance increases, turnover among long‑tenured fiscal staff, IT issues with a new case database — and noted HUD reimbursements and federal work‑share payments have been delayed by a federal shutdown. The agency said 96% of its general‑fund budget is fixed costs and that a reduction would therefore force cuts to technology and legal capacity that underpin statutory duties.
What happens next: the commission’s testimony is on the record for budget deliberations; senators asked clarifying questions and the agency flagged federal funding uncertainty and statutory notice requirements that make some costs fixed.
