Modesto Bee Article
By Tim Moran, Staff Reporter
last updated: October 7, 2008 02:39:43 AM
The compromise state budget approved after a record-setting impasse in the Legislature will cost Stanislaus County government more than $4.2 million, according to county officials.
The bulk of the funding cuts will fall on those least able to afford them: the poor, the elderly, the mentally ill and the disabled. The state cuts coupled with declining federal funding for health and human services and an increasing need in the community because of the weak economy creates "a perfect storm," said county Chief Executive Officer Rick Robinson.
The details will be discussed at today's Board of Supervisors meeting.
Health services, including the Health Services Agency, the Community Services Agency (welfare department) and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, will take an estimated $2,476,500 hit.
The cuts include everything from canceling cost of living adjustments for welfare recipients to reductions in Medi-Cal health provider rates, which will make fewer people eligible for Medi-Cal, according to Patty Hill Thomas, county chief operating officer.
"The biggest concern in social serv-ices is CalWORKS," she said. "It is intended to get people off public assistance. There is growing demand and fewer resources. We are looking at additional reductions in health and mental health services."
Public safety departments, including the sheriff, the district attorney and probation, will lose more than $1 million. Robinson said the county will redirect revenues to maintain a focus on fighting drug crime and gangs.
As is typical in tight budgets, some prevention programs will be cut, Robinson said. The Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction grant programs have been eliminated at the state level, and the district attorney's office is losing funding for a spousal abuse prosecution program and getting less money for prosecuting elder abuse.
State reimbursements for jail booking fees are being reduced by 10 percent, or $83,000. Robinson said the county could try to collect the fees from the cities but will absorb the cost instead.
"We don't think that's the right approach in an economically difficult time," he said.
The $4.2 million in cuts might grow. County officials are still analyzing the state budget to determine effects on local programs.
Also, the county anticipates a $2.4 million cash shortfall because of a state delay in payments for mandated programs.
The total county budget, approved Sept. 9, is $966.5 million.
The supervisors will meet at 9 a.m. in the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St., Modesto.
Bee staff writer Tim Moran can be reached at tmoran@modbee.com or 578-2349.
