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Friends of the Fourth
District:
During the long days of summer also come many long nights for my
colleagues and I on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as
we finalize a budget for the next fiscal year.
Every County resident has braved three very difficult years filled
with deep cuts and difficult decisions, but today, we are beginning
to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Our efforts to reduce costs and be a bit more conservative in our
spending are paying off. While we have not yet solved all of our
long-term budget issues, the outlook for the year ahead looks very
good.
I would like to tell you how the Fiscal Year 2005-2006 Los Angeles
County budget represents new and much-needed spending in several key
areas:
• The Sheriff’s Department will receive nearly $40 million dollars
in new funding for services;
• About $10 million will go to the hiring of new deputies. This
translates into 20 new deputies just for the communities of the
Fourth District;
• The other $30 million will help reopen approximately 4,400 jail
beds and provide for additional jail security;
• Over the next two years an additional $70 million will be spent
for even more jail beds. These measures will help Sheriff Baca end
the Early Release Program and send a clear message to criminals that
crime does not pay in Los Angeles County;
• The District Attorney’s office will receive an extra $5 million to
hire 45 additional prosecutors;
• An extra $7 million is headed to Children and Family Services to
assist in safety for foster children; and,
• Our unincorporated areas will benefit from $100 million dollars in
new spending for parks, libraries and other services.
The thanks for our positive budget belong to many people. The County
continues to benefit from a robust real estate market and the
increase in property tax revenue that comes with it. Workers
compensation costs are dropping and cost-savings in various County
departments over the last several years are also helping.
I want to also thank Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his
collaborative work with the California State Legislature to fulfill
the promise of Proposition 1A and Proposition 42.
The voters and our local elected officials deserve the biggest
thanks of all for our strong budget outlook.
Without your support at the polls for Proposition 1A and 42, we
would not be as strong as we are today. Proposition 1A has done much
to keep Sacramento from raiding local coffers for property tax
revenue. Also, the Governor’s final budget is committed to restoring
Proposition 42 gas tax funds for use in local transportation
projects.
Los Angeles County will receive an extra $25 million dollars just
from Proposition 42 funds.
The California state budget shows that both Propositions are working
and that we are moving into a new era of respect for local services
and local government.
I wish you all the very best for the rest of the summer and the rest
of the year ahead.
DON KNABE
Supervisor, Fourth District
County of Los Angeles
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