The Coming Scramble for Dollars

The state runs out of money, so it passes on certain costs to the counties. The counties run out of money, so they pass on costs to the cities. But where do the cities turn?

That’s the heart of the problem over jail booking fees in Orange County, a controversy that serves as a useful example of the fiscal bind that counties increasingly find themselves in. The current problem began during last summer’s state budget crisis, when counties lost millions of dollars in state funding for social services programs that are, for the most part, mandated by the state. To help make up for the cuts, the Legislature approved ways for the counties to impose new fees on cities, including jail booking fees.

But when the Orange County Board of Supervisors signaled its intention to impose fees of up to $183 per booking, cities were up in arms. They couldn’t make much of an issue on fairness--in fact, the county has absorbed these fees for them. They do have an argument over timing: None of the cities has budgeted for these costs in the current fiscal year. That means immediate cuts in law enforcement and other programs.

This week, city and county officials met, eyeball to eyeball, to talk about the fees. It was not a pleasant conversation. Change the names of the county and cities, and it’s a scenario likely to be played out around the state. There’s just not enough money.