LA County OKs amended 2023-24 funds, boosting spending by $3.4 billion – Each day Information

Crediting an inflow of state and federal {dollars} together with higher-than-expected income and departmental price financial savings, the county Board of Supervisors authorized an amended $46.7 billion funds for the 2023-34 fiscal 12 months on Tuesday, Oct. 3, including a whole bunch of latest positions.

The board unanimously authorized a $3.4 billion supplemental funds plan, augmenting the preliminary $43.3 billion funds it authorized for 2023-24 again in June.

In a presentation to the board, county CEO Fesia Davenport mentioned greater than half of the brand new funding, or about $1.8 billion, represented new funding from the state and federal governments. She famous that the majority of that cash is particularly “hooked up to explicit applications or providers,” that means it largely can’t be reallocated to different county applications.

The remainder of the extra funding is the results of “operational financial savings” in numerous departments, together with workers vacancies, price financial savings in areas corresponding to ongoing capital enchancment tasks and income collections that “exceeded what was anticipated,” primarily property tax income.

The brand new funding will probably be used so as to add 667 workers positions, bringing the county’s general workforce to 115,324, Davenport mentioned. Of the brand new positions, the most important quantity — 167 — will probably be allotted to the Division of Psychological Well being, largely to increase providers to the homeless because the county works to clear encampments by transferring folks into housing and remedy. She famous that greater than 30 positions will probably be unfold throughout numerous departments to shift folks with the very best mental-health wants out of jail and into remedy settings.

The county Division of Kids and Household Companies will get the second-highest variety of new workers positions, at 123, in an effort to scale back caseloads for social staff whereas additionally supporting foster youngsters and households. The Division of Parks and Recreation will see 33 new positions, supporting aquatics and recreation applications.

As they’ve in lots of earlier public hearings in the course of the funds cycle, board members obtained an earful from many activists who continued to push for the quick closure of the Males’s Central Jail downtown, contending that situations stay poor and endanger the lives of these housed there.

Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn famous that the funds consists of funding for body-worn cameras for jail deputies and substitute of two,000 cameras that “monitor actions contained in the jail.” She famous the dedication of the board to in the end shut the jail, however mentioned within the meantime, the county should be certain “we care deeply for individuals who are in custody and ensure we’re defending their security in addition to the protection of the deputies who’re in our jails.”

Hahn and Supervisor Hilda Solis each famous funding within the spending plan to help immigrants, together with these being bused to Los Angeles from Texas.

Hahn additionally pointed to $22 million in state funding being supplied for the scheduled Dec. 1 implementation of the Neighborhood Help, Restoration and Empowerment, or CARE, Court docket, a statewide effort to get severely mentally sick into remedy. She additionally famous the addition of 132 psychological well being beds included within the new spending plan.

Solis hailed different applications, such because the LA vs. Hate program aimed toward combating hate crimes, the institution of an LGBTQ+ Fee, funding to increase consciousness and use of gun violence restraining orders, efforts to create “warmth motion plans” for particular person communities and $20 million to supply free telephone requires jail inmates.

In an announcement after the board’s unanimous vote, Supervisor Kathryn Barger mentioned she could be maintaining an in depth eye on the deliberate addition of psychological well being remedy beds within the coming months.

“As we fund homelessness outreach, housing, and supportive providers, we’re seeing clearly that treating psychological sickness is inextricably linked to efficiently attaining lasting outcomes,” Barger mentioned. “Funding psychological well being providers, beds, and personnel are all basic constructing blocks to each focal coverage space of our board — from engaging in reforms within the county’s jails, to serving to folks experiencing homelessness stay housed, to supporting foster youth who’ve skilled trauma that limits their full potential.”