State Veterans Affairs employees are speaking out against a proposed reorganization plan which department officials say should save the state more than a million dollars.
The state would save $1.2-million by converting an assisted living center at the Union Grove Veterans Home into a skilled nursing home. The change would eliminate more than 20 jobs including 7 nurses.
Several employees facing pink slips testified against the plan during a teleconferenced public hearing this week. County veterans service officers spoke out against another part of the plan that would consolidate the Bureau of Claims with the Veterans Benefits and Services Division.
Rock County service officer John Solis says that will make it harder for him to help veterans get the federal benefits they're entitled to.
"Everybody's concerned about getting our veterans benefits," says Solis. "Part of the reason is that it brings money into the state. We are not going to be able to bring money into the state at the level people would like us to if we don't have that support at the regional office."
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Another service officer, Russ Peck, says weakening the Claims Department may hurt the neediest clients he works with: service members' widows who are eligible for only $7500 a year in pension benefits.
"Their biggest concern is what flavor of cat food to open for breakfast, and for the VA to hold a claim on them for 6-9 months for something ridiculous, is ridiculous. It's our job to go up and make sure that that moves along."
The Veterans Affairs Board won't vote on the re-organization plan until April. Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs is fighting cuts in Governor Walker's budget that would cut funding for other veterans service programs including those that serve homeless vets.
