[12/12/03] A poor economy is being blamed for a 12 percent drop in donations to the United Way of West Central Mississippi that will translate into less funding to many local charities.

Barbara Tolliver, president of the United Way, pointed to increased health insurance costs and the national economy for a $200,000 drop from last year’s $1.7 million fund-raising campaign. Although Warren County has seen a steady employment rate and increased annual wages, Tolliver said people just didn’t give as much this year.

“I think people are just holding on to the money they have,” Tolliver said.

Of the 23 agencies funded by the United Way, all but four will see less cash from United Way starting Jan. 1. Most agencies will receive about 10 percent less next year.

Haven House, Salvation Army, Warren Yazoo Mental Health and the 807 Clinic will receive funding nearly the same as the current year. The hardest hit will be the American Red Cross, which will get $12,092 less, or about 12 percent.

Beverly H. Connelly, executive director of the local Red Cross chapter, said those cuts won’t affect local services such as emergency assistance for families or military and veteran services. She said the real cut will be in funding to the national disaster relief fund.

“We’ll just have to come up with other ways to pay it,” Connelly said.

United Way funding is allocated to certain programs in each agency. For 2003, the Red Cross received $20,736 for the national fund, but is expecting $5,708 for next year.

Other agencies that will be getting cut more than 10 percent include We Care and the Girl Scouts. The United Way will also be funding two fewer agencies next year after leaders of the Good News Jail and Prison Ministry and Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth said they will not need funding in 2004.

Vicksburg Family Development center will receive $111,403 next year, about 5 percent less than this year, and the most of any United Way agencies.

The United Way local had set a goal of raising $1.8 million for this year’s drive. This compares to the $1.75 million goal set last year and the $1.7 million raised.

Jimmy Heidel, executive director of the Warren County Economic Development Foundation and Chamber of Commerce, said the loss of several industries in the last year hurt the local economy and charitable giving.

“We had a few industries close, but it looks like there’s a turn around now,” Heidel said.

The Mississippi Employment Commission showed a 5 percent jobless rate in Warren County for October. Last year’s jobless rate was 6 percent.

Tolliver said the United Way will also be working on community awareness about the agencies they fund to help increase next year’s fund raising. The United Way of West Central Mississippi serves Warren County and part of Claiborne County.