Anu Mohan of Chateau D'Bakersfield understands the situation is serious. "I am afraid that these people will not have the services that they get from Chateau," said Mohan.
Mohan says that is what will happen if state lawmakers don't solve this crisis, and fast.
Today, State Controller John Chiang announced that California is nearly out of cash, and will have to give IOU's to millions of Californians seeking tax refunds. "It will hurt taxpayers, both businesses and individuals, who expect, who have earned, and who are truly deserving of the hard earned tax dollars and the tax refunds that should be sent to them," said Chiang.
Senator Roy Ashburn of Bakersfield has a simple message for Chiang. "Well I believe that lawsuits should be filed if the State Controller John Chiang goes forward with this scheme of issuing IOU's back to the taxpayers, for their overpayment of 2008 taxes," Ashburn declared.
State vendors like Chateau D'Bakersfield may have to close if funds are delayed, which is part of Chiang's plan. Chateau provides aid to adults who struggle with mental disabilities. The clinic currently serves some 130 clients.
"I really don't know what's going to happen. I'm sure you can see, if they don't pay, what options do we really have," says Mohan.
Payments will also be delayed to services that provide assistance to more than a million aged, blind, and disabled Californians, and that's just part of the pain.
"Its not that they(the mentally disabled) could go from here to another program because when the state doesn't have any money, everybody's affected. All the doors are shut. Its not like they can come here, and then they have an alternative," says Mohan.
