HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08141990 - H.B N. 6
9: 30 A.M.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on August 14, 1990 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
(See below for vote)
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
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SUBJECT: Implementation of State Budget Reductions
Phil Batchelor, County Administrator, presented to the Board his
recommendations as contained in the report ( attached and included as
a part of this document) for implementation of State Budget reduc-
tions imposed upon the County as a result of the $3 . 6 billion State
shortfall in this fiscal year. The County Administrator noted that
the Phase I cuts taken on August 6 , 1990 applied to County operated
programs. He advised that the Phase II cuts under consideration by
the Board today will implement reductions in certain mandated
programs and are a direct result of the State shortfall. Mr.
Batchelor advised that the reductions being proposed today amount to
$9. 3 million in State funds no longer available to Contra Costa
County. He also noted that the recommendations in the attached
report included in the Fund category were changed to Fund/Watch due
to the continuing uncertainly of final State cuts.
Persons listed below spoke on the proposed cuts. Speakers
opposed reductions in public health and mental health programs;
expressed the need for development of a strategic planning process to
identify revenue sources to mitigate the impact of the proposed
reductions on the poor and disadvantaged; proposed the reduction or
elimination of service contracts for mental health programs with
these services absorbed by county personnel; referred to proposed
reductions in the Justice System and the need to discuss the cuts
with the judges; expressed concern for the needs of the homeless and
the retention of programs to address these needs; opposed closure of
mental health clinics; urged the Board to maintain the libraries at
the current funding level; requested retention of programs providing
services to children and their families; requested retention of detox
programs; and proposed reduction of managerial staff positions in
lieu of line staff as a means of maximizing fiscal resources for
mandated programs. Those speaking were:
Jean Siri , 1015 Leneve Place, E1 Cerrito;
Clay Foreman, P.O. Box S, Martinez;
Stanley Hutter, Contra Costa Employees, Local I , 2025 Port
Chicago Highway, Concord;
Norman Spellberg, Judge of the Supervisor Court, Martinez;
Sarella Sue Ogden, P. O. Box 601 , Concord;
John W. Olsson, Phoenix Program, 1535 Flora St. , Crockett;
Barbara Bysier, Family Stress Center, 2086 -Commerce St. ,
Concord;
George Sisikin, 2964 Knoll Dr. , Concord;
Raymond Loveday, 9380 Lemon St. , Apt. A, Martinez ;
Bruce Oberlander, P. O. Box 601, Concord;
Steve Gallion, 211 C St. , Martinez;
Larry Mars, Phoenix Programs, 1401 4th St. , Antioch;
James T. Young, 1121 Detroit Ave. , Concord;
Elizabeth P. Hastings , Project Second Chance and the Contra
Costa Library, 450 Dale Rd. , Martinez;
Raymond Neuman, 232 Broadway, Richmond;
Michael Cornwall, 105 Oakview, #C, Concord;
Susan Prather, P. O. Box 236, Crockett;
Shirley Young, Phoenix Programs, Maple Ave. , Concord;
Susan Cinelli, Alcohol Programs, Concord;
Jenifer Mendalski, Central County Multi-Service Center,
2270 Bacon St. , Concord;
Joe Gross, Residential Alcohol Provider, 305 Chesley, Richmond;
Wayne Wechsler, We Care Foundation, 2191 Kirker Pass Rd. ,
Concord.
At the conclusion of the speakers ' presentations, the Board
considered the recommendations of the County Administrator.
Supervisor Torlakson referred to potential legal problems that might
occur if monies were diverted from the library to fund human service
programs. However, he proposed transferring certain health
education and prevention programs and some outreach activities to the
jurisdiction of the County Library in order to maximize funds for
health service programs providing direct services to people.
Mr. Batchelor called attention to the fact that the Library has
sustained numerous cuts over the years, noting as an example the
reduced hours of operation available to library patrons.
In referring to reductions sustained by county departments and
non-profit agencies, Supervisor Schroder spoke on the need to appeal
to private organizations with whom the County contracts to assist in
controlling costs for services provided.
Supervisor Powers expressed concern with the closure of the
Girls ' Center and the problems and expense associated with the place-
ment of these young women in board and care institutions. Supervisor
Powers recommended that staff monitor the costs associated with these
placements and report to the Board in six months.
On motion of Supervisor Powers, seconded by Supervisor Schroder,
the Board APPROVED the recommendations of the County Administrator as
set forth in the attached report. The vote on the motion was as
follows:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Schroder, McPeak, Fanden
NOES: Supervisor Torlakson
ABSENT: None
Supervisor Torlakson then moved that staff be directed to
develop a list of educational type public health and mental health
programs that could be transferred to the library to manage.
The motion died for lack of a second.
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of
an action taken and entered or, the minutes of the
cc: County Administrator Board of Supervisors on the data shown.
Auditor-Controller ATTESTED' �[� g L /.541 / '� 13
Health Services Director PHIL SAT OR,Clerk of tib Board
Director, Social Services of SuperAsors and County AdffdnWUBW
By �'��L:�L��—..CePuty
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
t
FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator f / � Costa
^o �J
County
DATE: August 14, 1990
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE BUDGET REDUCTIONS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)6 BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I . RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. It is recommended that the revenue that is derived from
booking fees be allocated to offset a portion of the
reductions in the Juvenile System Subvention Programs and the
Trial Court Funding Functions.
2. It is recommended that the Board accept the Justice System
Advisory Group' s recommendations to reduce several of the
projects which are currently funded by AB 90 funds as
outlined in this report. .
3. It is recommended that sufficient funding ( $71,906) be
allocated from the booking fee revenues to mitigate the
detrimental effect on the AB 90 programs that must be reduced
due to state cutbacks.
4. It is recommended that the Girls' Center be closed effective
October 1, 1990.
5. It is recommended that savings from the Girls' Center closure
be used to replace the state reductions that threaten the
closure of the Byron Boys' Ranch.
6. It is recommended that $129,000 be allocated from the booking
fee revenues to add two Deputy Probation Officer positions,
one clerical position and one Probation Aide position to
increase the resources available in the Probation Placement
Unit needed to find placement opportunities for female
delinquents.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _YES SIGNATURE: .;
_RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE -OTHER
IGNATURE S:
ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHE
'VOTE OF SUPERVISORS,
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
-UNANIMOUS(ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: AIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: ATTESTED
PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M (10/88) BY ,DEPUTY
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7. It is recommended that an additional $106,870 be allocated
from the booking fee revenues to provide three Group
Counselor positions for the Boys' Ranch to increase its
capacity to 74.
8. It is recommended that the County Administrator's office be
directed to work with the Probation Officer and Juvenile
Court to explore alternative uses of the building that
currently houses the Girls' Center to determine if it should
serve as an addition to Juvenile Hall or be used as a
co-educational facility which might serve as a privately
operated AFDC supported transition center.
9. It is recommended that the balance of the savings from
closing the Girls' Center be used to offset the targeted
reductions in the Home Supervision Program that serves as an
alternative to incarceration of juveniles.
10. It is recommended that booking revenues totaling $804,148 be
used to offset the reduction in Trial Court Funding revenues.
11. It is recommended that the Board direct the County
Administrator to work with the Courts to determine the
precise program impacts of these reductions and return to the
Board on September 25, 1990 with a report.
12. It is recommended that the revenue that is derived from the
Property Tax Administrative Fees be dedicated to minimize the
level of reductions that would otherwise be required due to
state cuts in the Social Service and Health Service
Departments.
13 . It is also recommended that three program specialist
positions that currently work in the Staff Development Unit
of Social Service be eliminated which will result in a
savings of $113,000.
14. It is recommended that $387,000 be allocated from the
Property Tax Administrative Fee to the Social Service
Department for Child Protective Services to reduce the amount
of cutbacks that have to be made in this program as a result
of the Governor's veto.
15. It is recommended that $5. 3 million be earmarked from the
Property Tax Administrative Fees to fund the county health
care clinics.
16. It is recommended that immediate minimum reductions of
$1,400,000 be made in the Health Services Department as a
result of the cuts made by the State Legislature and Governor
in services to the needy.
17. Direct the County Administrator to prepare necessary position
reduction resolution, post any necessary notices and meet
with affected unions in order to accomplish the needed
reductions.
18. It is recommended that the County Administrator be directed
to prepare a third budget status report for September 25 so
that the Board can consider what additional reductions will
have to be made to balance the budget once fund allocation
formulas are known.
II. BACKGROUND
The budget report which was presented at the August 6, 1990 budget
hearings indicated that the State Legislature and the Governor
reduced county programs by an incredible three-quarter billion
dollars for the 1990-91 fiscal year. To add insult to injury,
these reductions were not made on a timely basis, thus requiring
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that additional cuts be made in order to offset the financial
obligations that could have been avoided had the information been
provided within the time frame provided by state law.
To offset some of the drastic reductions made by the state in
adopting their budget, new revenue raising authority was provided
to counties to lessen the impact of the expenditure cuts.
However, the new revenue sources will not offset the cuts made by
the state, so additional reductions need to be made.
In order to put the challenge that has been placed on county
government into perspective, it is necessary to consider that the
record setting cuts made by the state this year are in addition to
the burdens that have been piled on counties in each of the last
13 years. During this period the cost of administering state and
federal programs has continually gone up at the same time that the
number of unfunded and underfunded mandates which have emanated
from these legislative bodies has continued to flow unrelentingly.
Because of this cumulative erosion, Contra Costa County was
already facing severe budget problems even before the dawning of
the latest round of tragic reductions. This budget catastrophe is
magnified when one considers that the county has the legal
obligation to open a new jail that is estimated to cost over $12
million in the 1991-92 fiscal year as well as the obligation to
take steps to alleviate the continuing deterioration of the
obsolete medical facilities that are being used to serve an
ever-growing number of clients. These new operational and capital
demands must compete for scarce resources with the service
requirements placed on the county as more and more people enter
the criminal justice system and the caseloads in Social Service
and Health Services continue to grow.
Unfortunately as the county tries to deal with the cumulative
damage of the past, the tragic casualties of the present and the
increasing demands for the future, it appears that it must do so
in light of a decline in new building construction, a slowing in
the real estate market and the promise of a recession on the
horizon which will also restrict the generation of revenues at the
local level.
In summary, it makes the goal of providing effective, courteous,
responsive service to the public a challenge such as has never
before been faced by counties in California.
III. PROGRAMS AFFECTED
A. Law and Justice Programs
THE PROBLEM
Trial Court Funding and Justice System Subvention Programs were
reduced by $93 .7 million with adoption of the state budget.
Program Impacts As a Result of Justice System Subvention Program
(AB 90) Cutbacks
The local impact that results from the Governor's veto of $33
million of the $67 million statewide appropriation for Justice
System Subvention programs (AB 90) totals $862,241, or 49%.
In order to understand what steps should be taken to deal with
these devastating cuts, the Justice System Advisory Group, which
was established by the Board to recommend allocation of AB 90
funds, was asked to consider this matter. After a preliminary
investigation they have recommended that each program that is
currently funded by AB 90 funds be reduced proportionately by 49%,
as is shown in the table below.
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Justice System Advisory Group Recommendations
Just Syst
Advisory
1990-91 Group
Department or Proposed Recommended
Agency Project Title Allocation Reductions
Criminal Justice Planning, Coordination, $ 39, 537 $ 19, 387
Agency (CAO) Evaluation & Admin
District Attorney Performance of AB 3121 256,056 125,559
Public Defender Defense of Juveniles 76,771 37,645
Brentwood Youth & Family Services 83 ,238 40, 816
Health Services Detention Facility Mental 149,841 73 ,475
Health Services
Friends Outside Friends Outside 35,966 17,636
(Sheriff)
Battered Women's Battering Abatement 24, 564 12, 045
Alternatives
District Attorney Adult Pre-Trial Diversion 182, 561 89, 520
Probation Byron Boys' Ranch 834,328 409, 118
Probation Home Supervision 76,817 37,668
TOTAL $1,759,679 $862,869
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The Justice System Advisory Committee also recommended that
booking revenues be used to offset losses to criminal justice
agencies and that the Board support legislation to restore AB 90
reductions and implement a booking fee for juvenile facilities.
Program Impacts as a Result of Trial Court Funding Reductions
Trial Court Funding reductions, if implemented in the same manner
as funding was provided in 1989-90, would be as follows:
Trial Court Funding
Possible
1989-90 Budget Reduction Amount
County Clerk $ 688,000 $ 94,610
District Attorney 496,079 68,201
Municipal Court . 11180,368 162 ,299
Probation 172,492 23,717
Public Defender 292,890 400254
Sheriff-Court Related 313,000 43,075
Sheriff Other 413720417 601,454
Superior Court 1,2001000 165, 042
SB 90 Revenue Losses 606,000 83 ,329
TOTAL $9,321,246 •$1,281,981
APPROACH
The Realization of Booking Fee Revenues
A state task force of County Administrators, Auditors and Sheriffs
is working on developing a standardized booking fee process. The
recommendations from this task force will be made in the near
future. However, it should be noted that each county has
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different costs for booking and therefore the charge by county
will vary, although the process used to determine the cost will be
standardized as a result of the new task force's work.
A very preliminary estimate indicates that $1,096,000 may be
derived by the county from this source if a cost of approximately
$123 is charged for each eligible booking. However, a number of
factors need to be considered in computing this fee. Nineteen
separate steps are currently used to process each person arrested.
This process costs over $2 million annually, but county arrests,
remands from the court and CHP arrests reduce the total amount
that may be eligible to charge other agencies.
Another factor that must be taken into consideration in
calculating the amount of revenue that can be realistically
anticipated from booking fees is the fact that a significant
number of people are currently released on their own recognizance
within a short time after being booked. Therefore, police
departments may decide to simply not book individuals who will be
immediately released if it is costing the city for each person
they bring to the county jail.
After a preliminary analysis of these factors and several others
it has been determined that a total of approximately $1,100,000
can be derived as a result of charging booking fees to the cities
and other jurisdictions that book people into the county jail.
This revenue estimate will be refined once the state committee
completes the task of determining which items are appropriate for
inclusion in booking fees.
Measures to Mitigate a Portion of the AB 90 Reductions
1. It is recommended that the revenue that is derived from booking
fees be allocated to offset a portion of the reductions in the
Juvenile System Subvention Programs and the Trial Court Funding
Functions.
The recommendation of the Justice System Advisory Committee to
reduce all projects proportionately by 49% is appreciated.
However, the county is currently financing mandated programs and
essential juvenile housing facilities with Justice System
Subvention funds (AB 90) , which will require some adjustments.
2. It is recommended that the Board accept the Justice System
Advisory Group' s recommendations to reduce most of the programs
currently financed with AB 90 funds.
It should be noted that even if the decision is made to
immediately reduce these programs by 49% they will have been fully
funded for the month of July and August before the 'reductions can
be made.
3 . It is recommended that sufficient funding ( $71,906) be allocated
from the booking fee revenues to finance the full cost of these
programs for the months of July and August.
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RECOMMENDED AB 90 REDUCTIONS
Advisory
Group' s Booking CAO
Department Reduction Revenue Recomm.
or Agency Project Title Recomm. Offset Reduct.
Criminal Justice Planning, Coordination,
Agency (CAO) Evaluation & Admin $ 19,387 $ 1,616 $ 17,771
District Attorney Performance of required
AB 3121 funding for
juvenile prosecution 125,559 10,463 115, 096
Public Defender Defense of Juveniles 37,645 31137 34,508
Probation Home Supervision of
Juveniles 37,668 3,139 34, 529
Brentwood Youth & Family Services -
counseling and diversion
for law enforcement
juvenile referrals 40,816 3,401 37 , 415
Probation Byron Boys ' Ranch
support 409,118 34,093 375,025
Health Services Detention Facility
Mental Health Services 73 ,475 6, 123 67 , 352
Friends Outside Friends Outside-volunteer
(Sheriff) services to inmates 17,636 11470 16,166
Battered Women' s Battering Abatement-
Alternatives counseling and treatment
for violent males who
abuse their spouses 12,045 1,004 11 ,041
District Attorney Adult Pre-Trial
Diversion - diverts
offenders from court
system 89,520 7,460 82,060
--------- ------- --------
TOTALS $ 862,869 $71,906 $790,963
If the 49% AB 90 reductions were applied equally to all programs,
the Byron Boys ' Ranch would receive a $408,821 reduction.
However, as Gerald Buck, the County probation .Officer states: "It
is not advisable to consider closure of the Boys ' Ranch to
accommodate revenue short fall. The Ranch is a critical component
of the Juvenile Justice System and serves over 400 delinquents per
year. "
There is an alternative that can keep the Boys' Ranch open. Mr.
Buck suggests that, "The only major non-mandated program in the
Probation Department is the Girls' Center. While it is the only
residential program operated for girls by the Department it should
be noted that this is the only Probation Department which operates
a locked program for girls in Northern California. Girls '
committed to this program have multiple problems usually personal
and family related, including drugs, sexual promiscuity, pregnancy
and mental health. Their delinquent acts tend to be of a less
serious nature, usually precluding a commitment to the California
Youth Authority."
The Girls ' Center has the capacity to house 19 girls, but an
average of only 14 girls per month from the county have been
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placed at the Center during the past 12 months. In order to
offset the high costs of running this facility, contract
commitments from out of the county have been sought to utilize a
portion of the excess capacity.
The 1990-91 appropriation for the Girls' Center is $664,470 and
the revenue anticipated from contract commitments from out of the
county total $50,000. Therefore, the net cost of the Girls '
Center for 1990-91 equals $614,470 ($664,470-$50,000) , or $43, 890
per bed annually.
If the Girls' Center were to be closed effective October 1, 1990,
cost savings for 1990-91 of $460,800 could be realized. This
would provide sufficient savings to keep the Boys' Ranch open.
Since the Board approved in the 1990-91 Final Budget the addition
of nine group counselor positions and one Institution Supervisor I
to open the Juvenile Hall Monticello Unit, the closure of the
Girls' Center would not result in layoffs, but could result in
three demotions.
4. It is recommended that the Girls' Center be closed effective
October 1, 1990.
5. It is recommended that savings from the Girls' Center closure be
used to replace the state reductions that threaten the closure of
the Byron Boys' Ranch.
Once the Girls' Treatment Center is closed, an additional burden
will be placed on Juvenile Probation Services to provide
appropriate placements for the most troubled females. This
negative impact can be reduced, by adding resources to the Juvenile
Placement Unit.
6. It is recommended that $129,000 be allocated from the booking fee
revenues to add two Deputy Probation Officer positions, one
clerical position and one Group Counselor position to increase the
resources available in the Probation Placement Unit needed to find
placement opportunities for female delinquents.
The Girls' Center has also served as an alternative to Juvenile
Hall for girls awaiting placement. Absent this alternative, there
will be added population pressure on the Hall. Additional
population burden at Juvenile Hall could be partially offset by
provision of additional counselors at the Boys' Ranch to increase
the population capacity to 74 on a full-time basis.
7. It is recommended that an additional $106,870 be allocated from
the booking fee revenues to provide three Group Counselor
positions for the Boys' Ranch to increase its capacity to 74.
18. It is recommended that the County Administrator's office be
directed to work with the Probation Officer and Juvenile Court to
explore alternative uses of the building that currently houses the
Girls' Center to determine if it should serve as an addition to
Juvenile Hall or be used as a co-educational facility which might
serve as a privately operated AFDC supported transition center.
Full utilization of Home Supervision, a state mandated program
that provides an alternative to incarceration for juveniles, is
critical to keeping the Juvenile Hall population at minimally
acceptable levels. The 49% recommended reduction would cut
$37,640 from this program.
9. It is recommended that the balance of the savings from closing the'
Girls ' Center be used to offset the targeted reductions in the
Home Supervision Program that serves as an alternative to
incarceration of juveniles.
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Measures to Mitigate a Portion of Trial Court Funding Reduction
10. It is recommended that booking revenues totaling $804,148 be used
to offset the reduction in Trial Court Funding revenues. The
following chart demonstrates the new reduction amounts that would
result.
Trial Court Funding
Recommended Reductions
Booking
Reductions Revenue CAO Rec
Proposed Offset Reduction
County Clerk $ 94,610 $ 59,354 $ 35,256
District Attorney 68,201 42,796 25, 405
Municipal Court 162,299 101,829 60,470
Probation 23,717 14,884 8,833
Public Defender 40,254 25,274 14,980
Sheriff-Court Related 43 ,075 27,003 160072
Sheriff Other 601,454 377,213 224,241
Superior Court 165,042 103,526 61,516
SB 90 Revenue Losses 83,329 52,269 31,060
--------- --------- ---------
TOTAL $1,281,981 $ 804,148 $ 477,833
11. It is recommended that the Board direct the County Administrator
to work with the Courts to determine the precise program impacts
of these reductions and return to the Board on September 25, 1990
with a report.
B. Human Services Programs
THE PROBLEM
Health Services and Social Service are the county's largest
departments and constitute a significant portion of its budget.
They are funded primarily by state and federal resources and as
such are the most vulnerable during times of cutbacks. Besides
the sizable reductions that have already been made in these budget
units to balance the 1990-91 budget, additional adjustments are
required to take into account the impact of the newly adopted
state budget.
The exact extent of the reductions that the county must face as a
result of state actions is not known at this time due to the fact
that the formulas which will allocate reductions have not been
prepared by the State in most cases. Estimates indicate that
$6.7 to $8.9 million in additional health and mental health cuts
may be necessary, as well as $500,000 to $900,000 in Social
Service child welfare services. Although precise reduction
amounts are not known, it is prudent to move forward at this time
to make adjustments that would not exceed the minimum negative
impact Contra Costa can expect to receive, due to the fact that
the longer the decision to make reductions is put off, the more
people, programs and projects will have to be reduced.
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APPROACH
The Realization of Revenue from Property Tax Administrative Fees
In order to alleviate some portion of the cuts, the State
Legislature did mandate that the Auditor shall withhold a Property
Tax Administrative Fee from the cities and collect the same from
special districts and school districts.
The legislation that passed regarding this source of revenue is
silent on how these charges should be calculated. Therefore, a
. statewide committee of County Administrators and Auditors has been
established to review an appropriate methodology to be followed in
calculating the appropriate costs that are chargeable to the
various agencies. This committee will work with state agencies
and the League of Cities to produce a recommended approach. Once
their work has been completed, the county will be able to produce
accurate revenue figures for 1990-91. The revenue estimates that
are being recommended to be included in the budget at this time
are based on preliminary calculations that have been made by the
County Administrator's Office in conjunction with the Auditor.
Although the recommended amount of revenue of $5.7 million is
realistic, it will need to be refined in the weeks ahead. Any
revenue refinements that may be required could be considered by
the Board in its September budget status report.
The County Administrator' s Office has developed preliminary
estimates based on actual costs for the 1989-90 fiscal year which
indicate that the three departments ' total costs, excluding
overhead, are $10. 3 million. Overhead estimates add another
$800,000 to this total amount. Subtracted from the total is the
current fee revenues now authorized by state law, which include
fees for administration of the supplemental roll, 1915 Act and
General Obligations Bonds, special levies charges, collection fee
contracts, and new charges recently adopted by the Board, yielding
net costs of $7. 9 million. When the County general fund share of
the total property tax allocation (26.84% in 1989-90) is also
factored out, it leaves a potential revenue recoverable, under the
new state law of $5.7 million. This revenue projection will be
refined once the specific cost determination methodology has been
provided by the state committee.
12. It is recommended that the revenue that is derived from the
Property Tax Administrative Fees be dedicated to minimize the
level of reductions that would otherwise be required due to state
cuts in the Social Service and Health Service Departments.
Social Service
In addition to the significant reductions that the Department of
Social Service has already taken, it still faces an additional cut
of $500,000 to $900,000 in Child Welfare Services as a result of
the Governor's vetoes. The exact amount that the county will be
reduced will depend on the method chosen by the state in
allocating the Child Welfare Services appropriations. The final
allocation amounts are not anticipated to be available for several
weeks, which means that 100% of the program costs which are
subject to be reduced are a general fund expense for a minimum of
two months and more realistically three months.
Due to the fact that the Board has made Child Protective Services
one of its highest priorities in the past and the requirement to
be in compliance with federal and state requirements, it seems
desirable to look for a way to minimize reductions in the child
welfare area.
Since the final allocations are not known at this time, a best
case scenario is suggested that assumes only a $500,000 reduction
will be needed. If the final figures that come from the state
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indicate a larger reduction will be needed, then additional
adjustments can be considered as part of the September 25, 1990
budget report.
13. It is also recommended that three Program Specialist positions
that currently work in Staff Development of the Social Service
Department be eliminated which will result in a savings of
$113,000.
14. It is recommended that $387,000 be allocated from the Property Tax
Administrative Fee to the Social Service Department for Child
Protective Services to reduce the amount of cutbacks that have to
Be made in this program as a result of the Governor' s veto.
Health Services
The previous adoption of the 1990-91 Final Budget required a $1.9
million reduction in the Health Services which did not take into
account the full impact of the massive state cuts. The total
amount that must be reduced in the Health Services budgets will
not be fully known until the state approves allocation formulas to
distribute reductions to all counties.
However, what is known at this time is that the County lost the
$700,000 COLA for AB 8 and a sizeable reduction in both the
Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP) and the mental health
program. Although the final formulas are not available at this
time, it is anticipated that MISP will be reduced by a minimum of
$3. 5 million if reduction allocations are based on expenditure
amounts, and up to $5. 2 million if they are abased solely on the
January 1, 1990 population statistics. The mental health cuts
ranged from a low of $2. 5 million to a high of $3 . 0 million.
The total amount that the State cut the Health Services Department
ranges from a low of $6.7 million to a high of $8. 9 million.
The final reduction numbers are not known at this time, nor is the
certainty of realizing the estimated revenue amounts.
Nevertheless, it is imperative to make immediate reductions at the
lowest anticipated reduction levels in order to avoid the
necessity of having to cut deeper into the health care programs
later in the fiscal year.
15. It is recommended that $5. 3 million be earmarked from the Property
Tax Administrative Fees to fund the county health care clinics.
16. It is recommended that immediate minimum reductions of $1,400, 000
be made in the Health Services Department as a result of the cuts
made by the State Legislature and Governor in services to the
needy.
The following table contains the recommendations of the County
Administrator's Office and the Health Services Department on how
the $1. 4 million reduction should be allocated to existing health
programs in light of the Phase I cuts that have previously been
made, taking into account the maintenance of care issue required
by Prop 99 and considering the overall impact on services to the
public.
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Health Services Department Reduction Plan
Appropriation
Under State
Description Consideration Reduction Action
1. Close Brentwood Hlth Ctr $ 278,000 -- Save/Note (a)
2. Eliminate Sery to Med Indig
Adults at Following Locations
- Pittsburg 410,000 -- Save/Note (a)
- Concord 80,000 -- Save/Note (a)
- Richmond 920,000 -- Save/Note (a)
- Martinez Family Practice Under Study -- --
3. Close Richmond 1,619,000 -- Save/Note (a)
4. Close Pittsburg 1, 535,000 -- Save/Note (a)
5. Close Concord 496,000 -- Save/Note (a)
6. Close West County Crisis
Unit 361 ,000 -- Fund (b)
7. Eliminate Suicide Prevention 70,000 -- Fund (b)
8. Eliminate Alcohol Detox Beds
- East County 176,454 -- Fund (b)
- Sunrise House Recovery* 87,772 -- Fund (b)
- Holloman 303 ,713 -- Fund (b)
- Shennum and Jail Detox 459,438 -- Fund (b)
9. Eliminate Children's Day
Treatment Program 483, 000 -- Fund (b)
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Appropriation
Under State
Description Consideration Reduction Action
10. Eliminate Children's Mental
Hlth Treat Specs 200,000 Fund (b)
11. Reduce Outpatient Adult MH
Clerical Support 140,000 -- Fund (b)
12. Reduce Det Facility - 33%
Medical Staffing 500,000 -- Fund/Watch (c)
13 . Eliminate Detention Facility
Psychiatric Staffing 640,000 -- Fund/Watch (c)
14. Reduce Ctr for Hum Dev (M.H. )
- NEAT 100% 33,000 - Fund/Watch (c)
- Prevention 100% 61,000 -- Fund/Watch (c)
15. Reduce Phoenix/Rubicon
Contracts 15% 326,000 -- Fund/Watch (c)
16. Eliminate San Pablo
Discovery Centers 35,000 -- Fund/Watch (c)
17. Eliminate Horizons Disc Ctrs 93 ,416 -- Fund/Watch (c)
18. Reduce Center for Hum Dev
(NEAT Contract Drug) 45% 30,000 -- Fund/Watch (c)
19. Reduce Many Hands Contract 10% 28,000 -- Fund/Watch (c)
20. Reduce Desarrollo Contract 10% 21,500 -- Fund/Watch (c)
21. Y Team (YMCA) Contract
Reduction 100% 100,000 -- Fund/Watch (c)
22. Eliminate Advisory Board Staff 200,000 50,000 Reduce/Watch (d)
Keeps position vacant, bi
layoffs_
23. Eliminate A/DA/MH Contr COLA 350,000 87,500 Reduce/Watch (d)
Represents 1% of total
payment limit. Means COLA' s
effective 10/1/90, like
county employees
24. Eliminate Providers (MD/FNP) *
Affects clinics. One 717,000 100,000 Reduce/Watch (d)
position will be eliminated
and two reassigned.
25. Reduce Conservatorship Program
Eliminates 1 supervisor, 3 200,000 75,000 Reduce/Watch (d)
remain. Total staff 21 FTEs.
26. Reduce Outpatient Adult MH
Services
- MH Trtmt Svcs (9 FTE' s) 490,000 390,000 Reduce/Watch (d)
- Supervisors (2) 140,000 140,000 Reduce (e)
27. Reduce HS Admin Staff (2 FTE' s) 75,000 75,000 Reduce (e)
28. Reduce Sunrise House, Inc. *
Alcohol Residential Contract - 10,775 10,775 Reduce (e)
5.6% reduction in contract.
Does not impact detox beds.
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29. Reduce Bi-Bett Corp, Inc.*
(no detox reductions) 42,447 42,447 Reduce (e)
Represents 3.6% reduction
in total contract.
30. Reduce AIRS Program* 30,561 30,561 Reduce (e)
Eliminates one vacant position
31. Reduce Alcohol/Drug
Abuse Council* - represents 3 ,765 3 ,765 Reduce (e)
4% reduction.
32. Reduce Center for Human -
Development Contract* - 12,452 12,452 Reduce (e)
represents 4% reduction.
33 . Merge Discovery I & II - 125,885 125,885 Reduce (e)
Combines two facilities,
resulting in staff and
operational savings
34. La Cheim Residential
Contract Reduction - 100,000 100, 000 Reduce (e)
20% reduction will mean a
reduction in rates, no
impact on service levels.
35. Reduce Selected Contract*
Physicians Payment Limits 83 ,000 83,000 Reduce (e)
Reduces specialty rates, no
service level impacts.
36. Public Health Nursing
Supervision/Admin 75,000 75,000 Reduce (e)
Eliminates one vacant
supervisor position.
* Substitute items from 8/6/90 hearing
TOTAL $12,616,288 $11401,385
(a) Dedicate Property Tax Administrative Fees to fund these items
on a continuing basis
(b) Continue to fund from the department's existing resources.
(c) Continue to fund with the understanding that these items may
be recommended for reduction when the final allocations are
considered by the Board on September 25, 1990.
(d) Reduce a portion of these items immediately and consider for
additional reductions when the final allocations are
considered by the Board on September 25, 1990.
(e) Reduce these items immediately.
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17. Direct the County Administrator to prepare necessary position
reduction resolution, post any necessary notices and meet with
affected unions in order to accomplish the needed reductions.
18. It is recommended that the County Administrator be directed to prepare
a third budget status report for September 25 so that the Board can
consider what additional reductions will have to be made to balance
the budget once fund allocation formulas are known.