Supervisors Open Hearings on $11.9-Billion County Budget

In sharp contrast to the bitter protests last year, the complaints and controversy about next year’s proposed $11.9-billion county budget were dramatically less Wednesday as the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors opened public hearings on the spending plan.

Representatives of the biggest union representing county workers protested proposals to cut about 1,000 county positions by downsizing some operations and privatizing health clinics and two hospitals.

Annelle Grajeda, assistant general manager of the powerful Service Employees International Union, Local 660, said job cuts should be a last resort and called on the supervisors to back away from plans to privatize Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey and High Desert Hospital in Lancaster.

But the lack of sweeping cuts in the 1996-97 budget plan offered by outgoing Chief Administrative Officer Sally Reed has clearly changed the atmosphere. Rather than recommending spending cuts to match the county’s income, Reed balanced this budget by counting on one-time revenues from pension funds and carry-over balances to cover the cost of some services.

Although generally pleased with Reed’s basic budget, mental health and children’s advocates called for more spending on those services, saying there are tremendous unmet needs across the county. The supervisors also heard from representatives of various groups, including those from the Chinese, Korean, Asian-Pacific and Laotian communities who called for more support of programs in their areas, including health services and anti-gang efforts.