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Veterans Feel Coalition Salaries are Unnecessary

By KGNS News

A group of veterans says money being given to the Laredo Veterans Coalition is being wasted, money that could be going back to those men and women coming home after serving overseas. Our Ryan Bailey has more.

The South Texas Afghanistan Iraq Veterans Association feels money being giving to veterans by the city and county is going to waste in salaries to run the Laredo Veterans Coalition.

"We believe that's wrong, that we can have a plan where we can save enormous amount of money and distribute it to the veterans to provide services directly."

Lopez says over $60,000 a year goes to pay for salaries that are not necessary.

"We don't have to have an executive director on the pay and we don't have to have secretaries."

Instead he says there are veterans at L.C.C. that could easily be used in their place.

"They can supplement their income by using the V.A. work study while also helping local veterans."

But it will take more than just a couple veterans in college to get the job done, the rest of the officers with the coalition will have to step up and take on more responsibility.

"If the officers will make a commitment to really serve the veterans pro-bono, then that would be wonderful. But it takes a commitment from dedicated veterans that really want to help and not just be there for a paycheck."

Ryan Bailey, Laredo's pro 8 news.

Lopez says the money they would save by going to this plan would help at least another 200 veterans in the Laredo area. Our calls to the Laredo Veteran’s Coalition went unanswered but we will continue to follow up with them tomorrow.

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