Leaders in Sioux City may reconsider a plan which drastically reduced the budget for the local human rights commission.
The city council slashed the panel’s budget in February by $140,000 dollars, more than a third.
During this week’s meeting, supporters of the Sioux City Human Rights Commission packed the council chambers. Dan Moore is the mayor pro tem and one of two council members who support fully funding the commission.
Moore says, “It’s an essential service and I voted against the cut, and I would vote against it again.”
Many residents spoke out at the hearing in favor of restoring funding to the commission, which helps to enforce anti-discrimination laws. Mike Goodman was among the backers.
“It is critical that we have proper local support for the rights of our citizens,” Goodman says. “We’re a diverse community. We value equity, diversity and inclusion, and I’m proud to say that.”
The council voted to decide next Monday on whether to reinstate the budget for next fiscal year.
The panel’s chair says if the money isn’t reinstated, staff hours will be cut, and some of the most vulnerable in the community will suffer.
(By Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)