Following a public meeting on Tuesday, Kristie Doser of the Domestic Violence Intervention Program spoke to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors asking for support as domestic-violence services look to adjust to federal and state budget cuts.

The DVIP faces financial problems after losing $1 million in funding last year, with more cuts expected to come.

The $1 million cut was the final straw following 10 years of cuts for these human services.

With the cuts forcing the DVIP and other services to take action to persevere, these shelters will likely regionalize with Johnson County going from serving four counties to nine. 

The supervisors expressed concern that a regionalized center in Johnson County would be funded by Johnson County residents while serving several counties’ victims.

Linn County victims use 25 percent of the beds available in the Iowa City shelter, while Linn County residents pay no money toward the center — aside from the same federal and state taxes all citizens pay.

The supervisors said they would continue to support the DVIP.

— by Stacey Murray