Ogden, UT — As the Utah legislative session nears its conclusion, tensions surrounding budget cuts are escalating. One organization feeling the impact is the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA), which learned last Friday that its funding had been completely slashed for the upcoming fiscal year.
For years, UCASA has relied on state funds to operate its rape crisis centers and deliver vital sexual assault prevention programs across Utah. The coalition has been receiving millions of dollars annually to provide education, outreach, and resources to communities. However, this year, UCASA has found itself with nothing.
“This cut means we will no longer be able to provide essential prevention education, classes, or outreach programs aimed at reducing sexual violence,” said Liliana Olvera-Arbon, the coalition’s executive director. “These programs are crucial to the mission of educating our communities and hopefully ending sexual violence.”
UCASA operates 13 rape crisis centers throughout the state, playing a pivotal role in raising awareness about sexual violence and providing survivors with support. Prevention education is at the core of their efforts, including workshops and community outreach designed to stop sexual violence before it starts.
For the past several years, UCASA had been receiving ongoing state funding to support its prevention programs. Three and a half years ago, Representative Romero successfully advocated for the coalition to receive $3.3 million in continuous funding. This amount, roughly $1.1 million per year, has been instrumental in the coalition’s ability to carry out its work.
But in the current budget proposal, despite initial recommendations to allocate $1.6 million, UCASA was informed on Friday that their funding had been entirely removed from the state budget.
Olvera-Arbon expressed the severe impact this will have. “Without this support, we will likely have to close programs, and potentially lay off staff. This is a devastating blow for those who rely on our services.”
State lawmakers provided some context for the cuts. According to Senator Scott Sandall (R-Tremonton), the legislature was faced with a number of requests for funding in a budget smaller than expected. “Unfortunately, we can’t fund everything in social services,” Sandall explained. “Some programs had to be pared down to make room for other priorities.”
Another factor contributing to the cuts was a significant accounting error, which led to nearly $120 million in underpayments to hospitals. Senate leaders indicated that some of the funding reductions, including the cuts to UCASA, would help offset these financial discrepancies.
Despite the cuts, UCASA continues to advocate for its mission. “We cannot afford to risk an increase in sexual assaults in our communities,” Olvera-Arbon urged. “Utah already ranks ninth in the nation for sexual violence, with one in three women experiencing some form of sexual assault in their lifetime. This is above the national average, and we need to continue our work to combat this epidemic.”
As lawmakers continue to navigate the final stages of the budget debate, many are calling for a reconsideration of funding for essential social services like those provided by UCASA. The coalition’s fight to secure financial support underscores the critical need for continued investment in programs that aim to prevent sexual violence and support its survivors.