Coalition Hopes to Halt Cuts in Funds for Needy : Bankruptcy: It says county health and social services are hit too hard by budget reductions.

Concerned that the poor and needy will be hurt most by Orange County’s bankruptcy, a new coalition of labor and community groups vowed Monday to fight further cuts in health and social services.

“We are here to speak up for all the people in this county, the poor people, the people who desperately rely on the county services being cut,” said Tim Shaw, who works on behalf of the homeless and is a spokesman for the new group--the Partnership for Responsible Public Policy.

Shaw and other partnership leaders announced at a news conference Monday that they are joining forces to prevent the Orange County Board of Supervisors from balancing the bankrupt county’s budget on the backs of minorities, the impoverished and the working poor.

“When a lean government becomes a mean government, someone needs to speak up and say, ‘That’s not acceptable,’ ” remarked Connie Haddad, president of the League of Women Voters of Orange County.

Some members of the new coalition accused the supervisors of directing their budget cuts at those with little political clout.

“They only look at representing those who can influence them with money,” said Art Montez of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Unveiling of the new partnership came one day before the supervisors meet at 5 p.m. today to approve a bare-bones 1995-96 budget that reflects nearly $188 million in cuts--many in health and social service programs.

County Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy has decreed that more cuts can be expected as county government tries to recover from $1.7 billion in investment pool losses that plunged Orange County into bankruptcy last year.

Critics have complained that health and social service programs have suffered the lion’s share of the cuts, but county officials say they are doing all they can to spread the pain evenly. The new coalition said its member organizations represent more than 50,000 county residents, mostly clients who turn to them for health and social services.

The group--representing 16 labor associations, religious groups and outreach programs--said it wants to help the bankrupt county continue to cut costs, while maintaining essential services to the homeless, mentally ill and impoverished.

Far from being a feat of magic, the group contends that the county can accomplish these goals by prioritizing spending and slashing waste.

“We think we can tell them how to get the most bang for the buck,” said Bill Fogarty, a county labor union leader.

The partnership plans to soon come up with solutions to the county’s budget problems and to present them to the board in upcoming weeks.

While the group hopes to sway the supervisors and county management, it wants to avoid political squabbling. For that reason, it has not taken a stand on Measure R, the proposed half-cent sales tax increase that goes before voters today.

“The next step is to come to the table with policy recommendations,” Shaw said, stressing that the tone will be one of cooperation--not confrontation.

“But we will not be wearing boxing gloves. It’s not our intent to say, ‘There’s a new sheriff in town,’ ” Shaw said. “Who is more expert at doing things on a shoestring budget than community organizations?”