Lynn Ericson really can’t afford any more cuts to her health care.

She’s been sick for a long time and has seen the strains that budget cuts have taken, not only on herself, but on her caretaker — whom she depends on regularly to stay healthy.

With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposing ten percent budget cuts across-the-board in California, Ericson worries what the future may hold.

Locals, such as Ericson, wanted their voices heard that these proposed cuts would be devastating to not only those with disabilities, but to whole communities.

They gathered outside the Humboldt County Courthouse on Saturday rallying and signing petitions that would be hand-delivered to representatives in Sacramento.

Tri-County Independent Living, a group that helps those with disabilities advocate for their rights, gathered the social services supporters — ranging from those supporting Medi-Cal and in-home support services to SSI recipients and mental health services — to help educate them about the proposed cuts and what they could mean for the future.

Cindy Calderon, TCIL systems change advocate, said instead of saving money, the cuts could end up costing California more.

Those who won’t be able to afford in-home providers, which cost roughly $10,000 per year, would end up in a nursing home — costing significantly more at up to $60,000 per year.

“We can’t face these cuts,” said Henry Willey, Far North Region director for the California Network of Mental Health Clients. “They get worse each year and seem insensitive to those that need them the most. We need to be together on this and speak in a strong voice.”

While watching the Raging Grannies perform a song and signing letters to send to Sacramento, Robert Sager said he simply wanted to help because he didn’t think it was right that programs were being slashed that benefit people who are sick.

“If we weren’t spending so much on fighting wars, we would have enough money to give to actual programs like education and health care — the things that are going to keep this country alive,” he said.

The governor will propose further cuts in a budget revision due on May 14 and locals hope that their outcries to Sacramento will help generate a change of heart, to prevent losing valuable services that aid hundreds of local residents.

Ericson, along with her nephew, Tim McPhillips, hoped that their voices would be heard to not only help themselves, but to help those all around them.

“I know, and protest, that everybody counts,” Ericson said. “The more people you got, the more people will watch, look and remember you were here.”