Bankruptcy Scenario Prompts County Review

The Board of Supervisors has asked its budget staff to review a recent study that found the county would risk bankruptcy during the next recession.

The board asked for a report from its chief administrative to review a study by the Public Policy Institute, which predicted the squeeze would come from increased demand on the county for health care while it lacked the ability to generate its own revenues.

The request came on a motion made Tuesday by Supervisor Mike Antonovich. The conservative Antonovich specifically asked for the chief administrative office to address the costs of providing services for illegal immigrants, although the study by Mark Baldassare--who wrote a book on Orange County’s bankruptcy--makes no mention of illegal immigrants.

The board, also on a motion by Antonovich, asked its health department and agricultural department to report on a study alleging hazardous levels of arsenic in the city of Los Angeles’ water supply.