Los Angeles County Unveils Budget Plan
Los Angeles County officials on Monday released a $19.3 billion budget proposal that focuses on improving health, public safety, homeless services and children's programs, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
County officials expect $557 million in new revenue in fiscal year 2006-2007, mostly from property taxes. However, county Chief Administrative Officer David Janssen said the proposed budget, which is 2.5% less than the current budget, reflects a conservative spending plan.
The proposed budget would fund nearly 3,000 employees in health, police and child-welfare services. The proposal also would increase funding to the county Department of Health Services by $156 million to cover operational costs, which would include hiring more than 800 employees, half of whom would be nurses.
However, the county DHS "still faces looming financial problems," the Daily News reports.
The budget was presented to supervisors on Tuesday, and public hearings will begin May 1 (Uranga, Los Angeles Daily News, 4/18).