County Chief Suggests Array of Cuts to Offset Potential Deficit

To offset a potential $182-million budget deficit, Los Angeles County’s interim chief administrative officer presented the Board of Supervisors on Friday with suggested cuts that range from slashing general relief and mental health services to eliminating departments that protect consumers, veterans and minorities.

After adopting a $12.2-billion budget in June, the supervisors directed the interim administrator, Sandra M. Davis, to develop a list of further cuts in case the county does not receive revenue included in the budget that is expected from the state and federal governments.

County officials do not know how many of the cuts will be necessary, although estimates range from about $50 million to nearly $200 million. They agree that some cuts and possible employee layoffs will eventually be necessary. The supervisors are scheduled to discuss the report Monday.

Davis acknowledged that many of the proposed cuts are not politically feasible.

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“These are some very, very difficult choices,” she said. “About a third of the cuts are tolerable, but I think the board will have to impose at least a portion of them.”

Despite the suggested cuts, the proposal would not come up with the necessary funds to open the completed but still unoccupied Twin Towers jail. Neither does the plan address the restructuring in the health care system to emphasize outpatient care over hospitalization that was sought by the Clinton administration as part of its earlier bailout.

The only board member who could be reached wasn’t happy with many of the suggested cuts.

“Faced with the continuing budget crisis, the board is compelled to make cuts--and significant cuts--in all departments,” said Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. “But we need to be more surgical in how we do it.”

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Perhaps the hardest hit in Davis’ proposal would be the county’s general relief recipients. The plan calls for cutting benefits from the current 12-month maximum to three months for recipients who are deemed employable. The plan would also reduce the monthly payment by $40, to $172. Such changes would save $38.7 million.

General relief benefits were cut last year from $285 per month to $212.

Other proposed cuts include:

* Eliminating the Affirmative Action Compliance Office, which handles complaints about discrimination.

* Transferring the county’s eight community regional parks to cities or the state government.

* Eliminating the Consumer Affairs Department, which helped investigate the recent Marshall Redman land fraud case in the Antelope Valley.

* Eliminating crossing guards from dozens of schools in unincorporated areas.

* Eliminating the Human Relations Commission, which investigates some hate crimes and focuses on resolving ethnic tensions in communities across the county.

* Disbanding the Military and Veterans Affairs Department, which directs veterans to counseling and other services.