San Mateo County’s First 5 Cuts $15.5M From Program
Last month, the First 5 San Mateo County Commission approved a budget plan that reduces funding for children's health care, wellness and other services by 31%, or $15.5 million. The cuts stem from lawmakers' plan to shift about $1 billion from county First 5 programs to address the state budget deficit. First 5 commissions are funded through Proposition 10, which voters passed in 1998 to authorize the use of tobacco tax revenue for early childhood health and education programs.
- "First 5 San Mateo County Commission Approves Nearly $16 Million in Cuts From Children's Programs" (Gonzales, San Jose Mercury News, 5/9).