LOS ANGELES COUNTY BUDGET

Prepared by Chief Administrative Officer Richard B. Dixon, the $9.2-billion spending plan proposed Friday will be presented to the Board of Supervisors next week.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Highest Los Angeles County budget ever, up 1.7% (or $160 million) from this year. Reserves $10 million for the supervisors to supplement or add programs. Would reduce the county staff to 75,821, down from 76,217.

* Reflects county’s “extreme dependence” on the state. Health, mental health, probation camps and fire suppression camps are significantly curtailed due to state funding reductions. Courts and criminal justice operations are expanded.

* Revenues: 48% or $4.4 billion comes from the state and federal government, 22% or $2 billion from local property taxes and 30% from other sources, such as fines and license fees.

PROPOSED CUTS

Health. An $82-million reduction is proposed. Proposed are closure of the Pediatric Pavilion at County-USC Medical Center, cutbacks in other health services at County-USC, Olive View Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center and closure of eight public health centers. Family planning services would be eliminated. Also proposed is a reduction in ambulatory care services at eight health centers.

Mental Health. An $8-million reduction, coming in the wake of this year’s $12-million curtailment. Will require closure of additional county-operated clinics and further termination of contracted private providers.

Probation Camps. Proposed is closure of 14 of 15 camps housing about 2,000 juvenile offenders.

They would be sent to harsher California Youth Authority facilities.

Fire Suppression Camps. Closure of five fire suppression camps housing about 530 state prisons is recommended. Will require the prisoners to be transferred to state prisons and will reduce resources for wild land fire protection.

Welfare. A $22-million cut is proposed. Welfare offices in Cudahy, Paramount, San Pedro and West Los Angeles would be closed. The county’s toy loan program where broken toys are repaired by welfare recipients and loaned to disadvantaged youth would be eliminated.

Museums. $600,000 in the Museum of Art and $1-million cut in the Museum of Natural History.

PROPOSED INCREASES

Jails. A $58-million increase to fund operation of the new 2,100-bed North County Correctional Facility and to add 50 jail beds each at Biscailuz Center and Sybil Brand Institute for Women.

Courts. $26 million for 22 new courts.

Health. $6.9 million for the AIDS ward at County/USC Medical Center and $2.9 million for expanded AIDS education. Additional funds also are provided for increased obstetrical services at Olive View Medical Center in the San Fernando Valley and High Desert Hospital.

Taxpayer Services. A $4.7-million increase to reduce property tax processing and correspondence backlogs and to enhance the county’s response to public inquiries and needs.