April 13--In their first public discussion of Los Angeles County's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, supervisors touted the plan as fiscally responsible, and one took a shot at critics who have warned that a leftward shift on the board would lead to loosened purse strings.
The $28.5 billion proposed budget released this week represents about a 1% increase from the previous year, which county officials said will be offset by increases in property tax and other revenues.
"As Hilda and I were running for these seats, what we heard most often was, 'Well, if you elect these two people, we will have given away the store. The budget will go right into a serious hole because all they do is spend, spend, spend,'" Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said, alluding to the 2014 election that brought her and Supervisor Hilda Solis into office, both with substantial labor backing.
Now, Kuehl said, people question why the county isn't spending enough money to fix all the problems -- notably the county's homeless population of more than 44,000 and shortage of affordable housing.
The proposed budget includes about $100 million for the plan, but county Chief Executive Sachi Hamai said an estimated $450 million a year would be needed to solve the homelessness crisis.
"So what do people say to us: 'How come there are still homeless on the streets?'" Kuehl said. "And I say, that is a stupid question. There are more homeless on the street because government can't fix it all, because you don't want to tax yourself more in order to pay for it."
The county is facing other big-ticket items in the coming years, including a planned replacement of the Men's Central Jail and refurbishment of the Mira Loma Detention Center in Lancaster to replace the current women's jail in Lynwood. The coming year's budget includes $148 million for those projects and other jail facility upgrades.
And large unfunded pension and retiree healthcare debts remain. The county expects to contribute $61.7 million toward prefunding its total $27-billion retiree healthcare debt this year.
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, one of the two Republicans on the board who will be forced out by term limits at the end of the year -- called the proposed spending plan "a responsible county budget which reflects the board's key priorities" in a statement.
"Maintaining a balanced budget for the long-term will be an ongoing challenge which will require continued sound fiscal management by the board," he said.
The county will hold budget hearings next month and adopt a final plan in late June.
abby.sewell@latimes.com
Twitter: @sewella
