Friday, July 25, 2008

Amid protest, board cuts services

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May 3, 2006 Wednesday

Pharmacies, Summit Center among programs sacrificed in bid to cover $43 million shortfall; 20 people also face layoffs

By Rebecca Rosen Lum, Times staff writer

Over the impassioned and sometimes tearful protests of therapists, parents and advocates for mentally ill children, Contra Costa supervisors Tuesday passed a $1.25 billion budget that carves more than $20 million from health and social services.

"If we funded (programs) the way we have been, we'd be out of reserves in 11/2 years," said Supervisor John Gioia of Richmond, the panel chairman. "This board has found it very difficult to make these cuts" in years past.

County Administrator John Cullen attacked a $43 million deficit in two ways: by identifying $23 million in additional revenues and making cuts that added up to $20 million -- primarily in health and social services.

The county will close its Summit Center home for troubled youths and reduce mental health services and crisis intervention at Orin Allen Boys Ranch and Juvenile Hall.

Public health center pharmacies in Richmond, Pittsburg and Martinez will close. Substance abuse services, child therapists and homeless outreach programs are all on the chopping block.

The final draft includes one change from earlier versions: It will restore more than $152,000 taken from STAND! Against Domestic Violence and Community Violence Services, which provides emergency services for rape victims. The cuts, aimed at trimming educational programs, would have hurt the agencies' direct services for women and children in danger, advocates said.

To restore that funding, County Administrator John Cullen must find an equal amount of additional cuts by next week.

The other cuts include elimination of more than 200 jobs, many of which were not filled. Many of the laid off workers have "bumping rights" and can claim other jobs. When all is done, about 20 people will actually be out of work, said County Administrator John Cullen.

Nonetheless, "for me personally, this has been a very, very difficult thing to do," Cullen said.

The payoff comes with the wipeout of a $43 million deficit and the rebuilding of reserves, which have fallen below 5 percent of the general fund. Both actions will provide a hefty boost to the county's anemic credit rating.

This is the first budget in five years that does not dip into the county's reserves to rescue vital programs.

Critics said a proposed cut in therapists would eliminate care for 245 needy children, some suffering from suicidal thoughts and acute depression. Some could lose their lives as a result, said Kathi McLaughlin, chairwoman of the Contra Costa Mental Health Commission children's committee.

"You are destroying the safety net," she said. "How are you going to live with yourselves? I don't think you can."

The supervisors reacted with both sympathy and anger, saying they had gone beyond their mission to pioneer many of the programs to begin with.

"Nobody came to the board when we approved a $500,000 expansion of mental health services into the West County schools," Gioia said. "Sometimes, I have enough."

Gioia cited a new study by the National Center for Youth Law that places Contra Costa County at No. 1 for protecting child abuse victims and children in foster care.

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