June 11, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                    

Contact:           Sara Floor, Communications Manager
                        916-926-8769; email: sfloor@counties.org

SACRAMENTO – California State Association of Counties (CSAC) issues the following reaction regarding the State Legislature’s joint budget.

The California State Senate and Assembly are advancing the state budget process with a package that will preserve the county-administered safety net and kick-start the economy. The Legislature’s budget package includes $1 billion for safety-net services counties provide on behalf of the state. CSAC urges Governor Newsom and the Legislature to preserve this critical funding as budget negotiations continue ahead of the June 15 deadline.  Preserving the state safety net means preserving our communities. There is no economic recovery without a strong safety net. 

“It is critical that this funding be included as the Legislature and the Governor continue budget negotiations. Preserving the county-administered safety net means preserving our communities and the many vital services counties offer,” said CSAC President and Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett.

California’s safety-net system is delivered almost entirely by counties —public health, public safety, behavioral health and social services— are under immense strain from the COVID-19 public health crisis and steep economic recession. The Legislature’s budget package prioritizes relief to maintain the safety-net in a severely challenging state budget and will help soften the blow to county programs and services. If funding for counties is not included in the 2020-2021 state budget, counties will likely be forced to enact:

• 40% cuts to investigations of child and elder abuse and neglect and necessary supports to keep families and children safe.
• 30% cuts to public health, including public health labs critical to COVID-19 response and communicable disease prevention for measles, HIV, and other potential pandemics.
• 30% cuts to behavioral health including inpatient psychiatric services, youth substance use disorder treatment and other critical programs for adults and children.
• 30% cuts to public safety and to programs for former state inmates housed in county jails or on probation.

“Without the $1 billion safety net backfill funding in the Legislature’s package, California’s safety net will be decimated,” said CSAC Executive Director Graham Knaus. “Counties will be forced to lay off employees and slash services that are needed to stabilize communities and kick-start California’s economy.”

California State Association of Counties (CSAC) is the voice of California’s 58 counties at the state and federal level.                                                                                 # # #