State Action Will Determine Fate of County’s Budget

Leaving their fiscal fate in the hands of cash-strapped state budget negotiators, Los Angeles County supervisors on Wednesday ended hearings on their own spending plan with an assumption that their record $2.2-billion deficit will only get worse in the weeks to come.

The supervisors, who get most of their revenue from the state, will wait until the governor and the Legislature complete their budget before resuming deliberations July 27.

“It’s grimmer than I thought,” said Supervisor Deane Dana, shaking his head. “It all depends on what happens in Sacramento now.”

“We’re looking better today than we will in a month,” Supervisor Gloria Molina said.

Supervisors wrapped up the first phase of their budget process Wednesday after listening to a parade of department heads, who detailed millions of dollars in service and personnel cuts they will be forced to make. While some pleaded for additional funds, most just urged the board not to order any deeper cuts.

Sheriff Sherman Block asked the supervisors to restore $31.8 million in programs, including 413 staff positions. Without an immediate commitment of more funds, Block said, he will begin paring back a series of programs effective July 1. Among the cuts are 145 detective positions, 53 positions on the gang enforcement teams and consolidation of offices in Pico Rivera, Malibu, Altadena, Firestone/Lynwood, Marina del Rey and San Dimas.

In one measure of the surreal nature of the county’s economic plight, Department of Public Social Services Director Eddy S. Tanaka told the board that he will probably have to lay off 300 workers because of limited funds, but needs to build office facilities because of the unprecedented growth in welfare cases that is causing long lines that spill out on the sidewalks.

Supervisor Ed Edelman told department heads to “use your ingenuity” in finding ways out of the budget crisis.

Edelman told Parks and Recreation Department Director Rodney Cooper to charge fees on nature and equestrian trails to close a $3.8-million budget gap. Without additional funds, the county plans to eliminate all staffing and close the exhibits at its nine nature areas, such as Eaton Canyon, and halt maintenance on more than 300 miles of trails.

Probation Department Director Barry Nidorf said closure of county probation camps might be averted if the state decides to contract with the county to run the camps as juvenile detention facilities.

The proposed $13.4-billion county budget falls $2.2 billion short of what is necessary to maintain already strained levels of service.

If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the budget cuts would affect virtually every corner of county government, taking heavy tolls on the sheriff’s, fire, welfare, health, parks and recreation and beaches and harbor departments. Layoffs could occur in several departments, including 240 at the health department.