Counties Sue To Force California To Release Funds for Social Services
On Friday, Sacramento and San Diego counties filed a lawsuit seeking to force state Controller John Chiang (D) to release $270 million in state payments for mental health and other programs counties administer for the state, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 2/13).
Chiang said he would withhold state payments to counties until a state budget plan is enacted (Ashton, Modesto Bee, 2/13).
Sarah Jiminez of the California State Association of Counties said at least 26 other counties are expected to file similar suits in the coming weeks (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 2/13).
Counties that already have joined the suit include:
- Lake (Larson, Lake County News, 2/14);
- San Bernardino (Hi-Desert Star, 2/14);
- Solano (Bernardini, Vallejo Times-Herald, 2/14); and
- Stanislaus (Ashton, Modesto Bee, 2/13).
Broadcast Coverage
On Monday, KQED's "Forum" included a segment on the lawsuit, including comments from:
- Chiang;
- Michael Genest, director of the state finance department;
- Jean Hurst, legislative representative for revenue and taxation issues for the California State Association of Counties; and
- Susan Peters, chair of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors (Krasny, "Forum," KQED, 2/16).