City and county officials throughout Santa Cruz are reeling from California’s proposed budget, calling it “the worst hit the state has ever imposed.” Social services, education, and public libraries will suffer some of the hardest hits, but law enforcement and public works will also be forced to cut back.
City and county officials throughout Santa Cruz are reeling from California’s proposed budget, calling it “the worst hit the state has ever imposed.” Social services, education, and public libraries will suffer some of the hardest hits, but law enforcement and public works will also be forced to cut back.
Fears of how the budget will impact their constituents are being echoed by local officials across the state. “We think these are illegal raids of local funds,” said Riverside mayor Ron Loveridge. League of California Cities president and mayor of Rolling Hills Estates Judy Mitchell added that the League will sue the state if it takes their gas tax funds. Local gas tax losses across Santa Cruz County could come to $16.7 million, forcing the county and cities to eliminate at least a third of their road repair and maintenance budgets.
The California State Association of Counties has said that it will join the League of California Cities in suing the state government over these gas tax diversions. The gauntlet has already been raised by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which voted yesterday to sue the state if it took their money.
In Santa Cruz County, law enforcement officials were especially vociferous in condemning proposed cuts to prison budgets. They argue that the early release of prisoners will only increase the burden on them.
While state parks are another victim of the new budget, Assemblyman Bill Monning said that the Central Coast is unlikely to feel the brunt of these cuts. He added, however, that it is too early to tell which state parks will eventually be closed.
All told, the general atmosphere among local officials throughout California is one of militant despair. This was summed up by Redondo Beach Councilman Steve Diels: “The state is broken, and misery loves company. We’re already feeling the pain. Why we should have to pay their debts is absurd.” Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel, the San Jose Mercury News, the Press Enterprise, the Contra Costa Times and KNBC.
