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Humboldt County health officials are bracing themselves for additional budget cuts after a recent economic assessment listed the state’s budget shortfall at $3.7 billion through the end of the fiscal year.
According to the report from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office, a nonpartisan group that provides fiscal and policy advice to the Legislature, the deficit is expected to grow to a $10 billion operating shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services Director Phillip Crandall said this is not a good sign, as budget shortfalls will equal cuts to local programs.
”California’s economy isn’t recovering at a pace that will relieve this operating deficit the state continues to be functioning at,” Crandall said.
As a result of lacking revenues, the state is enacting a series of trigger cuts that were included in the 2011-2012 budget package. These cuts translate into $2 billion in reduced funding for education, colleges, health services and local libraries. The exact amount of cuts to K-14 education is expected to be finalized by the state Department of Finance when it issues a revenue report on Dec. 15.
These cuts will go into effect Jan. 1 and will include $100 million from In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers, $10 million from the IHSS anti-fraud program, $15 million from Medi-Cal program providers and $100 million from the Department of Developmental Services. Read more
