Supervisors Approve ‘Enhancement’ Budget

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Thursday approved a $943-million budget that the county’s chief administrative officer described as the first budget since Proposition 13 that does not include major cutbacks in services.

The budget includes money to increase staffing at Edgemoor Geriatric Hospital, expand law enforcement in unincorporated areas and improve roads, parks and recreation, among other things, said Clifford Graves.

“There’s going to be enhancements just about everywhere,” Graves said.

The supervisors approved the budget after nearly two weeks of deliberations. The only dissenting vote came from Supervisor Susan Golding, who had unsuccessfully urged the board to freeze hiring and look for opportunities to contract work out.

Graves said he may later recommend a freeze for programs suited to contracting. But he told the board, “The more flexible you are in the ways you have to cut costs, the better off you are. Very often, a freeze is the most counterproductive way to cut costs.”

The budget, which officials in the financial services department said reached $943.24 million, represents a 6.3% increase over last year’s budget. It is the largest budget in the county’s history.

One of the biggest increases goes to the Department of Health Services, which is under fire from county and state authorities over its operation of the Edgemoor Geriatric Hospital and the Hillcrest mental health hospital.

Edgemoor is to receive money for about 140 new positions, including ones in nursing, housekeeping and the dietary department. However, the board has frozen hiring for administrative positions until it considers reorganizing the health department.

The budget for County Mental Health Services is to rise 20%.

Increases also will go to the Sheriff’s Department, for 13 new deputies to patrol unincorporated areas and eight new staff members to handle child abuse cases. The public works budget for road maintenance and rehabilitation is up nearly 15%.

“It’s the first budget we’ve had in years where we’ve actually improved services,” Graves said. An improved economy, more state assistance and administrative efficiencies like automation have made those improvements possible, he said.

The budget brings the number of county employees back up to a level last achieved in 1978. That year, California voters passed Proposition 13, which limited tax rates and thus the size of government.