Comparing County Budgets

Here is a look at Los Angeles County’s 1991-92 budget compared to other selected counties’ spending throughout the state.

Number County Supervisors’ County Pop. Districts Budget Budget Los Angeles 8.9 million 5 $12 billion $32.7 million San Francisco 724,000 11 $2.4 billion $5.1 million Sacramento 1.04 million 5 $1.1 billion $2.8 million San Diego 2.5 million 5 $1.9 billion $2.8 million Santa Clara 1.5 million 5 $1.7 billion $2.2 million Alameda 1.3 million 5 $1.1 billion $1.7 million

L.A. County Supervisors’ Budget Breakdown

* Total for 1991-92: $32,754,000

A) Salaries and Employee Benefits: $17,053,000

This category includes salaries of the five supervisors, their staffs and the executive officer, which serves as the clerk of the board.

52.1% of budget B) Services and Supplies: $13,094,000

Includes $5 million to be divided equally among five supervisors for projects in their districts. Among numerous other major items: Utilities, $524,000; telephones, $425,227; security, including cost of metal detector, $240,000; private consultants, $245,000; printing, $200,000; postage, $141,000; ceremonial plaques, $105,000.

39.9% of budget C) Other charges: $1,892,000

Includes $100,000 set aside for each of the supervisors to spend as he or she sees fit.

5.8% of budget D) Fixed assets: $715,000

Office equipment.

2.2% of budget NOTE: Some other supervisors’ expenses, such as purchase of cars, rental of field offices and cost of scrolls and county photographers come out of other county department budgets.

Compiled by Times researcher Cecilia Rasmussen