County Budget Compromise Eases Cuts, Benefits Valley

More than two months late and facing a $588-million shortfall, the Board of Supervisors approved a budget Tuesday after a dramatic last-minute compromise between liberals and conservatives staved off drastic cuts in county law enforcement and health services.

Facing the worst fiscal crisis in Los Angeles County history, the supervisors in essence put off many of the most difficult decisions until next year, gambling that the economy will make a dramatic turnaround or that additional revenue is provided by a cash-poor state legislature.

Residents in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, who count on the county for myriad services and jobs, were among the chief beneficiaries of the supervisors’ compromise. The Mira Loma Jail facility in Lancaster will remain open, as will the Malibu Sheriff’s Station and the county’s Monte Nido Fire Station in the Santa Monica Mountains. Severe staff reductions at the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho in Castaic will be averted, at least for now, and so will the expected closure of district attorney’s offices at courts in Newhall and Glendale, and coroner’s substations at Olive View and High Desert hospitals.

“The valleys dodged a bullet,� said county Chief Administrative Officer Richard B. Dixon.

Supervisor Mike Antonovich agreed, saying his hard fight to preserve fire and police services in his northern county district paid off. “We had to make tough choices,� he said, “but we were able to keep key programs operating.�

In all, the board cut about $250 million from a variety of programs. But deep cuts that had been threatened in the library, welfare and health departments were temporarily delayed to give the county more time to seek alternative funding sources.

Approval of the $13-billion budget came on a 4-1 vote amid criticism from Dixon and Supervisor Ed Edelman, who warned that the plan relies on temporary funding sources that are unlikely to be available next year.

Supervisor Gloria Molina, a liberal who joined with the conservative Antonovich to author the compromise, defended the budget even while acknowledging that the worst may be ahead.

“There are still deep cuts here,� Molina said. “This is really a wounded county. Come January we may be hurt even more. But this is the restoring of the basic essentials.�

The compromise forged by the unlikely coalition restored $54.7 million that would have been cut under a plan submitted by Dixon earlier this month. This was accomplished by a 12-month postponement of salary increases to non-union employees and a similar deferment of payments to county-employee savings plans--moves that will provide an additional $37.7 million. The board also voted to dip into a $10-million reserve. The remainder was provided by increasing fees at county golf courses and delaying some county obligations.

Edelman, who represents much of the San Fernando Valley, was the only supervisor to vote against the compromise, even though he applauded an infusion of $1 million to the County Fire Department budget that will save the Monte Nido Station in his district. Dozens of fire station supporters attended the meeting to offer support, including local property association president David Pevsner. “The community is elated, and very grateful,� he said after the lengthy session.

The plan defers what many feared would be Draconian cuts in public health services. By restoring $60 million in proposed cuts from the Department of Health Services, the county was able to put off sharp reductions in hours at many outpatient clinics.

The supervisors were able to earmark some additional money for health programs and the rollbacks were put off in the hope that the county will be able to win back additional state and federal funds that were cut from the state budget.

“Clearly, they are deferring some portion of the terrible cuts they are facing,� Dixon said. “We’re funding permanent programs with temporary, one-time-only funds.�

The county’s fiscal crisis was precipitated this summer when the state approved a budget that severely reduced payments to local governments.

Attempting to make up for the $588-million shortfall, Dixon recommended more than $350 million in cuts when he submitted his final budget proposals earlier this month. His plan would have led to the closure of six sheriff’s facilities, the Mira Loma Jail and 13 district attorney’s offices, and the elimination of 1,600 positions in the health department.

Dixon also proposed the elimination of one-eighth of the welfare department work force and a 12% cut in general relief welfare payments--the only source of income for 90,000 of the county’s poorest residents.

Dixon’s plan would have eliminated 4,200 jobs.

Attempting to avoid some politically explosive decisions, supervisors’ aides met throughout the last week to forge a compromise that would restore funding to the Sheriff’s Department and for health services. A vote on a Dixon plan to cut general relief welfare payments by 12% was delayed until next month to give supervisors more time to study the issue.

“It’s been a pretty cooperative and conciliatory effort, under very trying circumstances and with little resources,� said Tom Silver, chief deputy for Antonovich.

Edelman, however, complained that he was left out of the process and that he did not see the final compromise measure until it was faxed to him at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning.

“There was a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, deals being cut,� he said.

As a result, Edelman said, the county has merely succeeded in putting off hard choices until next year. “I have never seen us spend money that we’re not going to have,� he said, “and to spend it as quickly and without concern.�

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the budget compromise was the Sheriff’s Department, which had $35.4 million in proposed cuts restored.

A relieved Sheriff Sherman Block said he still will have to make significant cuts to his department, but declined to be more specific. But he said up to 500 jobs could be saved as a result of the compromise, many of them at the Mira Loma Jail and at Pitchess ranch, where staff reductions will be averted--but only if Block can come up with $5 million to match county funds.

The budget also will restore $4.8 million expected to be cut from the Department of Public Social Services. That money will allow the department to retain 350 welfare eligibility workers who faced layoffs under Dixon’s plan.

Union officials, who had opposed many of Dixon’s recommendations, hailed the budget compromise as a victory.

The board approved a $9.2-million cut in funding for the county library system, a move that officials say will force the closure of 12 public libraries. However, the board voted to delay closing the libraries until Oct. 20, when the board will meet to discuss other potential savings in the library department.

County Fire Warden P. Michael Freeman said the restored funds will allow him to avert most staff reductions at seven stations, and to keep response times at Station 67 to under seven minutes.

It was unclear how many county jobs would be eliminated by the budget cuts approved by the board Tuesday. “We’re not 100% sure what happened today,� Dixon said.

PENSION LAW: Governor OKs measure spurred by controversy over L.A. County pension increases. B1