Antonovich: Brown's Efforts To Reform Calif. Spending Have 'Failed'

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — One of Los Angeles County's top executives on Thursday took aim at Gov. Jerry Brown for his role in cutting millions of dollars from the county budget.

KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports Supervisor Mike Antonovich said Brown has "failed" taxpayers both locally and statewide.

"He's failed to provide the structural reforms at the state level that would save dollars," said Antonovich.

The former Assembly member said that despite Brown's pleas to the contrary, Sacramento does have the funds to bolster the county's fiscal health.

"But the governor all he does is continue to spend," Antonovich said.

His remarks comes as the Board of Supervisors is warned the state will not reimburse the county for as much as $8.5 million in spending for state mandated programs that include absentee ballots and maintaining a sex offender registry.

But Antonovich said any suggestion that county officials can fix the situation themselves is unrealistic.

"The county does not print money," he said. "The county is dependent upon the state to make responsible decisions."

The Board of Supervisors is expected to decide within the next several weeks whether to fund the services itself.