OC Supervisors Approve 2.7 Percent Bigger Budget
SANTA ANA (CBS) — Orange County supervisors Tuesday approved a budget that increases spending 2.7 percent, but hours later were apprised of the prospect of losing significant funding from the state that could result in draconian cuts in services.
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The supervisors approved the $5.6 billion budget on a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Shawn Nelson as the lone dissenter.
Second District Supervisor John Moorlach says Orange County's ability to boost its dollars is because of earlier cutbacks that began even before the height of the economic downturn.
"We've done it by starting early," Moorlach said. "We're at a place now where we're making five percent cuts to every department to meet our budget goals, reducing net county cost by five percent."
The spending plan represents a $146 million increase over fiscal 2010-11, budget director Frank Kim said, and calls for adding $1.7 million to reserves that total about $215 million.
The good fiscal news, though, was countered Tuesday afternoon by newly obtained projections that the proposed state budget agreement could lead to a $48 million hit for the county.
"The proposal before the California Legislature would cut $48 million that Orange County receives from vehicle license fees," Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Campbell said. "The loss of revenue would force the county to make major program cuts that would affect public safety programs in the Sheriff's Department, Probation Department and Office of the District Attorney.
"At its core, this will mean the county will have to close jail beds, reduce the number of prosecutors in courtrooms and close juvenile detention facilities," he said. "It would also mean significant cuts to critical public health programs, including community clinics and social services. This action threatens the viability of core safety net services at a time when people need these services most of all."
As of Monday, the state owed the county more than $91 million, Kim said.
Of the $5.6 billion budget, $3.1 billion is reserved for the general fund, and $663 million is put aside for core county services, Kim said.
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