A closer look at the impact the Sequester will have on local agencies

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - On March 1 $85 million in across-the-board cuts will go into effect. With only a few days until that happens local agencies are preparing for a cut in federal funds.

If a plan to cut federal spending is not put in place before March first research projects at Purdue could lose funding.

Purdue's Associate Vice President for Governmental Relations, Timothy Sanders, said exactly how much funding will be lost is still unknown.

"We will be looking at budget cuts one way or another and whether they're going to be thoughtful, whether they're going to look at program by program, or whether they're just going to cut across the board," Sanders said. "That's what remains to be seen."

According to experts, it's almost impossible to know the impact the Sequester will have on Tippecanoe County.

Regardless, Food Finders Food Bank Executive Director Katy Bunder said budget cuts will mean fewer donations and a higher demand.

"There will be less of that food available I'm afraid and at the same time people that are being furloughed by their jobs may not have as much money so we'll have new people seeking food assistance from pantries at the same time we have less food available," Bunder said.

Area IV Agency Energy Assistance Coordinator Kim Widner said plans are in place if the agency loses some federal funding.

"We would go to a waiting list kind of a thing and put people on a waiting list," Widner said. "If we think our funds are getting low then we would pull off the waiting list one at a time to make sure that we're spending the money, but right now we don't need a waiting list."

Widner said she's not worried about budget cuts. In fact, she said Area IV has more than $1 million  available for families in need. Widner said Area IV is currently looking for more clients to serve in Clinton, Carroll, White, and Tippecanoe Counties.

U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) believes the cuts are realistic.

"I look a little bit longer term than to any initial setbacks that may or may not come, again we're only talking about a three percent decrease. I challenge anybody to say that a family, business, or a school can't cut three percent," Rokita said.

President Barack Obama and congressional leaders are currently working on a plan to cut spending before the Sequester goes into effect.