Countywide : Final County Budget Includes 258 Job Cuts

Days away from the close of the fiscal year, county officials Friday released a final budget report that includes the projected elimination of 258 positions and millions of dollars in cuts for health services and other programs.

The report contains few surprises, putting into final form the cost-reduction guidelines that were already approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 16. The supervisors expect to give final approval to the budget Tuesday. The new fiscal year will begin July 1.

While the budget includes mild increases for family support services and a few other programs, many services will face sharp reductions or elimination as the county balances a shortfall that at one point was projected at $108 million. Hit hardest by the cuts will be mental and other health services, officials say.

The final budget totals $3.5 billion, a 6.2% decrease from the last fiscal year. It includes cuts of $23.1 million in programs financed through the county’s general fund, the only money over which county officials have broad discretion.

The budget report also includes the elimination of 258 positions out of a total of more than 17,000 county government jobs. The eliminations have already been approved by the supervisors. More than 100 of the positions scheduled for elimination are already vacant.