In light of California’s budget crisis, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed state budget will cut nearly all funding for AIDS programs once supported by the state’s General Fund. If passed, the cuts could affect the Office of AIDS — the state agency that organizes programs, services, and activities related to HIV/AIDS — and its ability to provide services to California’s citizens.

The measure will ultimately affect HIV testing and prevention programs as well as Californians living with the disease. Officials from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a non-profit health care organization, said they do not approve of the proposed budget cuts. Michael Weinstein, president of AHF, said cutting more than $170 million in AIDS funds will have a negative impact on the state’s progress in prevention and treatment.

AHF and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation said they worry that programs in California like the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which helps AIDS patients who cannot afford medications, may not survive the budget cuts. Some even argue that the cuts will make the state ineligible for some HIV/AIDS federal funds that normally match state money put toward certain programs.

Additionally, the proposal would cut funds for the Therapeutic Monitoring Program (TMP), a diagnostics process that helps patients find the best medications and routes for treatment.

The proposal is included in the state’s efforts to decrease General Fund expenditures by $1.025 billion. With California’s deficit growing past $20 million, Governor Schwarzenegger and the state legislature say they will work to “spend less and eliminate functions that are not absolutely critical.”

For more information, see the Governor’s Budget Summary (pdf).