A $4.2 billion recommend budget for Santa Clara County that
addresses a $223.2 million shortfall was released Monday.
A $4.2 billion recommend budget for Santa Clara County that addresses a $223.2 million shortfall was released Monday.
The $2.2 billion general fund budget outlines a spending plan for the next fiscal year beginning July 1.
Santa Clara County suffers from an ongoing structural imbalance in its budget with the blame placed on the failing economy and falling tax revenue. County Executive Jeffrey Smith warns that the county continues to be challenged by crippling declines in discretionary revenues that have lead to a ninth consecutive general fund deficit.
“Local governments struggle every day to provide needed services with dwindling resources, a situation that has grown astronomically during the current economic crisis,” Smith said. “The impact of the current economic recession has been devastating to families in Santa Clara County, the state of California, and across the country. Local governments are teetering on the edge of insolvency because of a staggering decline in revenue. The most optimistic forecasts do not see significant improvement in the near future.”
To meet the $223.2 million shortfall, Smith’s budget combines net reductions of about $84.8 million from programs and services and use of one-time revenue of $138.4 million. Included are 193 full-time equivalent positions proposed for elimination from the general fund.
A chunk of the reductions will hail from the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s fund – $35.7 million. The revenue related will not reduce services.
The Social Services Agency will cut $28.8 million from the Department of Family and Children’s Services, which includes 45.5 positions. Other major reductions involve closing and relocating the Clover House Visitation Center in San Jose, which will eliminate 16.5 positions. Visitation services for children in out-of-home placement and their families will be integrated into other service locations.
The Probation Department will contribute $2.9 million through the reduction of 23 positions and the restructuring of the Juvenile Electronic Monitoring/Community Release Program.
The Capital and Technology Plan has identified $25 million in capital projects but will fund just $8.8 million in the upcoming year.
