Is the federal government shutdown affecting Paso Robles?
The U.S. Congress failed to pass a budget this week resulting in a partial shutdown of “nonessential” federal government services, but what does that mean for Paso Robles?
How does the partial shutdown affect the City of Paso Robles?
Are there any ways the federal government shutdown is hurting the city of Paso Robles? “Not that I know of,” said Paso Robles City Manager Jim App.
Will schools be affected by the government shutdown?
The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District receives only 6.8% of its total revenue from the federal government, according to the school district. Most of its revenue comes from state and local sources. The district has no plans to shorten the school day, school week, or to reduce any services.
Does it affect Paso Robles business?
The wine industry might be affected, because the agency that approves wine bottle labels is “nonessential”. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau receives about 152,000 requests for label approvals each year. Some vintners complained that the label approval process slowed earlier this year in the wake of the sequester. With the shutdown it could grind to a halt.
What local US government offices are closed?
The postal service is continuing to deliver mail. Air traffic controllers, prison guards, and border patrol agents will remain on the job. Active military will continue serving and being paid. Social Security beneficiaries will continue receiving checks. But there are some closings:
- Some civilians at Camp Roberts are furloughed
- Some civilians at Camp San Luis Obispo are furloughed
- The Carrizo Plain National Monument is closed
- U.S. Department of Agriculture office in Templeton is closed
- Internal Revenue Service office in Santa Maria is closed
What is affected by the shutdown on a national level?
Here is an overview of some of the government services and operations that will be impacted until Congress passes a budget to fund them again. For detailed information about specific activities at Federal agencies, please see federal government contingency plans.
- Vital services that ensure seniors and young children have access to healthy food and meals may not have sufficient Federal funds to serve all beneficiaries in an extended lapse.
- Call centers, hotlines and regional offices that help veterans understand their benefits will close to the public.
- Veterans’ compensation, pension, education, and other benefits could be cut off in the case of an extended shutdown.
- Every one of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, will be immediately closed.
- New applications for small business loans and loan guarantees will be immediately halted.
- Research into life-threatening diseases and other areas will stop, and new patients won’t be accepted into clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health.
- Work to protect consumers, ranging from child product safety to financial security to the safety of hazardous waste facilities, will cease. The EPA will halt non-essential inspections of chemical facilities and drinking water systems.
- Permits and reviews for planned energy and transportations projects will stop, preventing companies from working on these projects. Loans to rural communities will be halted.
- Hundreds of thousands of Federal employees including many charged with protecting us from terrorist threats, defending our borders, inspecting our food, and keeping our skies safe will work without pay until the shutdown ends.
- Hundreds of thousands of additional federal workers will be immediately and indefinitely furloughed without pay.
How are you, your family or friends being affected by the US government shutdown?
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