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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 02061990 - 2.1 2-001 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Costa ot n. 'S o� County DATE: February 6 , 1990 c�sTq COUNT SUBJECT: MID-YEAR BUDGET STATUS REPORT, FISCAL YEAR 1989-90 I SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Accept this report and direct the County Administrator to continue to monitor the budget and implement corrective plans, where necessary. 1' BACKGROUND: The County Administrator' s Office has prepared quarterly budget status reports over the last five years. The purpose of these reports is to inform the Board of major issues, deviations from the adopted budget plan, and productivity measures, thus allowing the Board to make decisions to ensure a well managed, balanced budget. This second quarter report continues the practice of reporting the status of those major issues that have been identified in previous quarterly reports. As reported in the first quarter report, CAO staff has worked closely with Department staff to monitor the success of required reduction plans. As a result, we can report to you that most budget units are within the budget targets for the second quarter. The issues and budget units which merit special attention in this quarter' s report are: Community Services Currently, a deficit of $70 ,000 is projected in the Community Services Department budget, due to losses in the home weatherization program. In order to reduce the anticipated CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON �E 61 1990 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED _X OTHER �I VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: County Administrator ATTESTED FEB 61990 Auditor-Controller PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR �10382 (10/88) V , yL��(i1J'iYL�.�� DEPUTY - + _ 1 ll -2- deficit, the Department reduced its weatherization program staff from 26 to 5 positions and eliminated its unprofitable weatherization contract with Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The Department made- progress adeprogress in eliminating this deficit during the second quarter of the fiscal year and will continue to develop plans to further reduce the deficit, in conjunction with the County Administrator' s Office. r General County Revenue 1i Overall, revenues in this budget unit are being received as projected in the budget plan. The key property tax accounts appear to slightly exceed budget targets at this time period, but more will be' known after the second tax payment is processed in April. The real property transfer tax will probably exceed estimates due to' the generally strong real estate sales in the County. However, several revenue accounts will probably not meet budget targets. Sales tax may be underrealized primarily because of a decline in automobile sales and slightly lower Christmas sales. Motor vehicle registration fee revenue continues to be below budget expectations at the mid year period because of slow automobile sales. Health Services Department The Health Services Department is projecting a balanced budget as a result of all of the reduction actions taken. The Department reduced 25 positions, reduced Public Health Nursing administration and utilized new drug program and tobacco tax revenues. Compliance with ', State and Federal. licensing requirements at Merrithew Memorial Hospital continues to be of major concern. A recent request for continued waiver of safety related issues on G and H wards 1ias been denied by the State and will require an expenditure of $160,000 to correct. Even though the., Hospital in-patient census has levelled off, volume throughout the Department is running at historically high levels resulting in the increased usage of overtime and temporary employees. The average number of medical outpatient visits have increased by eight percent during the last twelve months from 14,'606 to 15,764. Continued monitoring and action in this area will�' be required during the next quarter. While the increased revenues associated with the passage of AB-75, tobacco tax, will be of benefit this year, the service delivery requirements, associated costs, and future impact will require continued monitoring. The Health Services Director will be reporting separately on this item in the next two to three weeks. Probation Department J The Probation i'Department' s budget situation for the second quarter continues a positive trend. The Department has received continued funding for their Intensive Drug Testing Grant for all of calendar year 1990 . The Department will be applying for Proposition 86 funds, Juvenile Facilities Bond Act, which provides funds for expansion and improvement of shelter homes. These funds do not require county match. As planned, the Boys' Center was closed on November 1, 1989. The Department has begun to monitor California Youth Authority commitments to prevent the reduction of CJSSP funds. These funds could be reduced if CYA commitments increase in excess of 10 . Sheriff ' s Department The average daily inmate population for all the County adult detention facilities for the second quarter continues to be less than the budgeted level. The second quarter ADP ,averaged 1, 386 as compared to a budgeted ADP of 1, 410 . There was a significant decrease in the month of December. a, �I -3- During the second quarter, County parole has been expanded and the electronic home surveillance program has been operational. If these program's continue to expand and prove successful, they may have a positive impact on inmate population. Possibly offsetting this, ; however, is the continual increase in City police activity 'related to drug enforcement. This has potential for seriously overcrowding County detention facilities, greatly increasing County costs. The Sheriff' s Department budget situation for the second quarter continues a positive trend. The Sheriff ' s Department has recently completed implementing its reduction plan. At this point, on an annualized basis it looks as if the plan will result in the anticipated reductions. Of particular significance is fthe reduction in overtime department-wide which has continued illnto the second quarter compared to the same periods in FY 1988-89. The impact of the recently negotiated Deputy Sheriffs lAssociation agreement is not reflected in the first six months expenditures. Further analysis of this issue may be required in the next few months. The freeze has been lifted for the Sheriff ' s Department with the exception of those positions added for the West County Detention Facility pursuant to the Board Order of July 18, 1989. Given the uncertainty !i of the opening date, it is important that expenditures related to the WCDF continue to be well controlled, marking the WCJF'1 positions subject to the freeze. At this time, it is anticipated that the West County Detention Facility will receive its first prisoners on October 1, 1990 . Social Services Department - General Assistance Expenditures in the General Assistance (GA) budget are expected to exceed budgeted levels by approximately $1. 2 to $1. 4 million dollars. Three factors largely explain this anticipated overexpenditure. First, as authorized by the Board of Supervisors on 'September 12 , 1989, General Assistance benefits were increased by an average of 180, effective November 1, 1989. Second, caseloads for employable GA recipients are 36. 5% higher than the budgeted level. Finally, with 50a of the fiscal year expended, 1540 of funds budgeted for emergency assistance payments have been expended, due to the Superior Court' s orders in Scates v. Rydingsword and Randolph v. County of Contra Costa, which have required the Social Services Department to continue the emergency assistance program beyond September, 1989. The projected deficit will be mitigated by the anticipated expansion of the Department' s Employable Services program in March, 1990, which will provide increased job search assistance and job development services to employable GA recipients. The County Administrator' s Office and the Social Services Department will continue to work together to monitor this budget and to develop further alternatives to meet the General Assistance budget target. l