Supervisor Knabe Warns of More Program Cuts in Talk Before Cerritos Optimist Club

By Jerry Bernstein

Supervisor Don Knabe said Los Angeles County has lost a total of $800 million in revenue due to a combination of budget cuts in Sacramento and the recession resulting in a drop in property taxes which are three percent lower than normal. . “The Board of Supervisors saw it coming,” he said, “and established a raining day fund to meet the projected shortfall. However, the fund is slowly being depleted as County needs are met.”
“We have a $24 billion budget. All but 10 percent is mandated. When state cuts back on money to local government [county] we have to come up with the funds to the programs can continue. He noted fdederal stimulus money will expire in October 2010. The problem is much of it is still in Washington D.C. and what money is allotted can only be used for jobs
Knabe stated said, “We’ve cut back five percent in every county department.” He predicted this fall will see dramatic reductions in programs. He described what is going on in Sacramento as being irresponsible. It’s non-partisan. They just can put their arms around it. “What the legislature is doing is approving five month budgets.” He said one of the things wrong, is they’re not talking to one another and if they are, they are not listening to what is being said.