CONTRA COSTA COUNTY: Health Services Dept. Revamps Budget
Contra Costa County officials recommended yesterday that the Health Services and Probation Departments, facing deficits estimated at $10 million and $3.9 million respectively, shift money from other programs and revenue sources in order to stave off huge service cuts, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. County Administrator Phil Batchelor's proposed budget for 2000-2001 would use surplus funds from property taxes along with revenue from welfare programs and vehicle license fees to eliminate the deficits. Supervisors will begin discussions on the budget next week. Also, supervisors voted to close the Bay Area's last remaining publicly operated home health agency, in order to cut $650,000 from the health department's budget deficit. Nurses warned that some patients will be unable to find in-home care (Johnson, 7/13).
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