Monday, December 01, 2008

By Tim Moran
tmoran@modbee.com

last updated: October 08, 2008 03:18:04 AM

Stanislaus County supervisors got a detailed look at state budget cuts that will affect county programs Tuesday, and they warned that next year will be worse.

The state budget cuts, part of a compromise budget the Legislature passed after a record impasse, will take more than $4.2 million from the county's already tight budget, plus $2.4 million in delayed payments for state mandated programs.

The county budget for 2008-09 is $966.5 million.

The county cuts fall mostly on the poor, the elderly, the infirm, children and the mentally ill, according to county department heads. County officials are scrambling to find ways to maintain programs they believe are critical, including staff reductions through attrition and holding vacant positions unfilled.

An example: The Commu- nity Services Agency will see a $1.3 million cut in the CalWORKs program, a public assistance program that aims to put people back to work.

"We were very surprised; it was an unanticipated cut," CSA director Chris Applegate said. "We are still working on how to adjust to it."

The food stamp program in Stanislaus County has grown 13 percent in the past year, and serves 50,000 residents each month, Applegate said. But despite the growth, the state is cutting 3 percent from the food stamp administration funding, Applegate said.

Other cuts include cost of living adjustments for disabled residents, Medi-Cal reimbursements, payments for in-home help for the el- derly and dependent adults, money for mentally ill criminal offenders and programs that help prosecute spousal and elder abusers.

Working around shortages

In several cases, county departments are shifting funds and leaving staff vacancies open to keep programs operating.

A cut in a program that funds treatment for mentally ill criminal offenders, for instance, affects several departments, including probation, the sheriff's office and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Chief Probation Officer Jerry Powers said.

"We are attempting to work to see if we can continue the program without state funding," he said.

"The problem doesn't go away," added Sheriff Adam Christianson. "They still need appropriate care and medication. We have to find new and creative ways to get the job done."

District Attorney Birgit Fladager described cuts to a spousal abuse prosecution program, adult protective services, child support services and for victim advocates. The loss of $102,000 for the spousal abuse prosecution was the most important, she said. "That was a huge hit for us."

She said she likely would be asking the supervisors for general fund money to keep some of the programs operating.

County Chief Executive Officer Rick Robinson praised department heads for identifying areas likely to be cut and adjusting budgets and staffing to compensate. The county has been prudent and has been trimming spending for more than a year in anticipation of this year's state cuts and reduced tax revenue, he said.

"We don't know if the strategy will be enough to get through the next three years," Robinson said, "but we are better off than most public agencies throughout the state."

The problem only will get worse next year, he said.

"The budget the state adopted does nothing to reduce the structural deficit," Robinson said. "They have done nothing to plan for multiple years of funding shortfalls. The impacts will be greater in 2009-10."

The supervisors voted 4-0 to accept the budget report. Board chairman Tom Mayfield was absent.

Bee staff writer Tim Moran can be reached at tmoran@modbee.com or 578-2349.

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