Federal Sequester to Slash $80,000 in Lakewood Funding

City officials received word late Monday afternoon that the affects of the federal Congressional sequester will soon hit home in Lakewood.

The federal government sent notice to the mayor’s office that the city will lose about 5 percent — or about $80,000 — of its community development block grant funding.

“Our fear was CDBG funding,” said Mayor Michael Summers.

“Our only consolation is that it’s only 5 percent. Many of the sequester formulas are in the 8 to 10 percent range. We hope this holds firm. This is serious.”

Funding for a homeless prevention program was also cut.

CDBG money funds various services and programs around the city, including the Lakewood Community Services Center and LakewoodAlive. 

“We expected a slight reduction, but we’re going to need to go back and take a look at these numbers,” said Dru Siley, the city’s director of planning and development.

The city’s Citizens Advisory Committee, which manages the CDBG funding, will meet to determine how to allocate the remaining 2014 funds. 

Click here to see a breakdown of federal employees who could be affected by the sequester in Cuyahoga County.