County Supervisors OK $11.9 Billion Budget

In a purely procedural action that does not reflect final spending priorities, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Thursday unanimously approved a proposed $11.9 billion budget for the coming fiscal year.

The action allows the county to hold public hearings next month on the 1996-97 spending plan unveiled Monday by Chief Administrative Officer Sally Reed. But the supervisors made it clear that they were not endorsing Reed’s spending and policy recommendations at this time.

The proposed budget maintains the county’s basic public safety, criminal justice, health and welfare programs. However, Health Services Director Mark Finucane told the board the county will not be able to turn over 22 community health clinics to private operators July 1--as called for in Reed’s budget--but will strive to do so by September 1.

Finucane said the department received only two “reasonable responses” to a request for bids on the clinics.