County law enforcement officials are warning of serious repercussions if the state permanently cuts about $76.5 million in annual disputed funds.
In the worst-case scenario, they say, thousands of probationers could go unmonitored, hundreds of jail beds could be lost, and prosecutors could struggle to win felony cases.
As the state and county wrestle over vehicle license fees and property taxes, administrators have avoided layoffs and major public safety cuts. But in May, the state prevailed in a lawsuit, and officials are planning for an ongoing budget hole. Layoffs are possible, a key labor leader and a supervisor say. Meanwhile, Sacramento legislators are scrambling to broker a deal.
Public-safety departments and others across the county submitted proposals this month: How would they cope with a 10 percent cut from the county general fund in fiscal year 2014-15? Across-the-board cuts would be bleak, law enforcement leaders say.
County executives responded to similar dire warnings this fiscal year by shifting funds and making other temporary fixes in the $5.4 billion county budget. That resulted in only three layoffs and the elimination of seven vacant positions across county agencies. But $52.4 million would have to be converted from one-time to ongoing savings if the loss became permanent.
Administrators again will look to prioritize public-safety budgets, said Chief Financial Officer Frank Kim, who emphasized planning is in early stages.
For the Probation Department, a $9.9 million cut could mean shifting about 3,000 offenders from frequent supervision – unannounced home or workplace visits, for instance – to little or no monitoring, Chief Deputy Probation Officer Bryan Prieto said.
“We don’t know what not supervising 3,000 offenders would do,” he said.
Sherriff’s officials warn they could have to close 862 jail beds at the James A. Musick Facility in Irvine – essentially the same move they made during 2009 budget cuts. Prisoners would move to other beds in the same complex, Lt. Jeff Hallock said, or to the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange.
This funding uncertainty comes as the sheriff, district attorney and other officials are grappling with added demands of corrections realignment. Thousands of state felons have been transferred to the county’s responsibility.
In its $3.9 million contingency plan, the District Attorney’s Office would cut attorneys, peace officers and other positions. Susan Schroeder, chief of staff for District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, said that cut may be accomplished through attrition, but “what’s the difference between layoffs and not being able to hire?”
“At some point, you’re just ripping at the seams,” Schroeder said.
Ultimately, the Board of Supervisors would prioritize funding among departments. It could vote to lower tuberculosis-prevention funding next year, for instance. Social Services and other agencies are facing the same potential cuts.
“It would be very easy to say, ‘Public safety is first, above all,'” Supervisor John Moorlach said in an interview last week, but he said the Sheriff’s Department and other public-safety labor costs were “pushing everything else.”
“When you have to find $76 million, it translates to a lot of bodies,” he said.
While some county administrators say it is too early to predict layoffs or the severity of cuts, labor leaders are sounding alarms. They hope to grab the attention of legislators in Sacramento, where union and county representatives are lobbying hard.
“It could mean hundreds of jobs,” said Nick Berardino, general manager of the Orange County Employees Association. “The situation, at this point, is very critical.”
The county’s funding shortfall stems from the refinancing of its bankruptcy debt in 2005, when an apparent clerical oversight failed to protect vehicle license fee revenue. Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration seized on the anomaly in 2011 and cut off the funding.
One alternative county leaders are floating in Sacramento would leverage $50 million in special annual property tax revenue state Sen. Lou Correa secured in 2009. Potentially, those funds could grow close to a $76.5 million annual stream, although the net county loss would still be about $76.5 million.
Unless funding is restored, Supervisor Janet Nguyen said the county likely would rely on reserves. She appeared more willing to protect public-safety funds than Moorlach, and was more circumspect about layoffs.
“You can’t triple someone’s workload and expect quality,” Nguyen said.
Contact the writer: 714-796-2254 or mreicher@ocregister.com
