San Diego County To Release Budget Proposal
San Diego County is expected on Tuesday to release a $4.33 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2006-2007, with more than three-quarters of that money being state funding that must be spent on certain health and social programs, the North County Times reports.
The county's general purpose revenue is expected to increase by 26% in FY 2006-2007 to $906.3 million. County Chief Financial Officer Don Steuer said the budget will include more funding for low-income adults in the County Medical Services program. A judge ruled in November that the county must raise its income threshold for eligibility in the program.
The budget also is expected to include wage increases for county health and social services workers, who are among the lowest-paid health care workers in the state, according to the Times. The budget likely will include funding for emergency preparedness for an avian flu pandemic.
Supervisors plan to open public hearings on the proposed budget June 9 and are expected to adopt it June 21 (Conaughton, North County Times, 5/11).