STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS: "OMINOUS DAYS BEFORE US," JACOB WARNS

County to Sue State Over Funding Cuts

By Miriam Raftery

Supervisor Dianne Jacob

February 12, 2009 (El Cajon) — Dianne Jacob, Chairwoman
of the County Board of Supervisors, presented a bleak outlook in a State of the County
address presented
last night at Cuyamaca College. As a result of falling revenues
and state budget cuts, lay-offs and deep cuts in County services will be necessary,
she warned. “Apparently, state legislators see nothing wrong with collecting
their paychecks, while aid checks to more than 63,000 `at risk’ San Diego children
hang in the balance,” said Jacob, who revealed that the state plans to delay
some $100 million in aid payments to foster families, disadvantaged children
and their parents.

San Diego Supervisors plan to send representatives to Sacramento Friday to
join with 23 counties to fight back by filing a lawsuit to try and force the
state to meet its obligations. Meanwhile, the County has sent letters
to vulnerable families explaining that the State aims to begin withholding
funds starting Friday.

Jacob also alluded to President Barack Obama’s inauguration speech, in which
he spoke of gathering clouds and raging storms. “Those storms are battering
our region.,” Jacob said. “We see dire unemployment, a record decline
in the housing market and a troubling drop in tourism..Let me be clear: what
lies ahead is treacherous.”

She described a “triple whammy” of hits: local revenues including sales
and property taxes have tumbled $90 million, stock market losses have squeezed
pension funds, and a state’s budget shortfall likely to result on the most
severe cuts ever, Jacob warned. More than 75% of the County’s operating
budget comes from the state, she noted.

Jacob pledged to utilize “strict fiscal discipline” as well as “technology
and creativity” to address problems she believes will test government more
than any time since the Great Depression. She noted that the County
has a balanced budget, an adequate emergency fund and that Standard and Poors
recently raised the County’s rating to AAA.

Public safety will remain the highest priority, Jacob stressed, adding that
the County’s commitment to spend $15.5 million annually on consolidation of
rural fire agencies will mean full-time coverage at over 50 fire stations in
unincorporated areas. She pledged a sweeping review of the current system
to determine what else should be changed to improve efficiencies in fire protection
despite taxpayers voting down the fire tax initiative on the November ballot.

Jacob said she will ask the Board to consider manadatory water-wise and fire-resistant
landscaping for all new development in the unincorporated area, and ask cities
to follow suit. She also called for expanded use of recycled water in
the face of potential water rationing.

“Solar energy is ripe for the taking,” said Jacob, who wants to see homeowners,
not SDG&E, allowed to keep profits from excess solar energy produced. She
also supports a plan for government to line up private financing to help homeowners
afford to install solar, then pay it back over time through property taxes. “Imagine
every house in our region as its own clean, green little power plant. It’s
possible!” she exclaimed. “What if we took the $2 billion ratepayer dollars
that SDG&E wants to use for its controversial Sunrise Powerlink and funded
rooftop solar energy instead?”

On Monday, the City laid off 27 workers. Now, Jacob said more outsourcing
of public jobs to private contractors may be needed to stem the flow of red
ink.

But that proposal drew criticism from Melinda Battenberg, communications specialist
for Service Employees International Union, Local 22. “I don’t thnk outsourcing
is a proven solution to anything. It’s concerning to hear her say that,” said
Battenberg. “We really need to look at the County level to see what could
be done to protect jobs and services.” She found it ironic that Jacob
criticized state legislators for taking paychecks while the budget crisis remained
unresolved, noting that “Supervisors are still getting a paycheck and large
auto allowances” while workers are being laid off. She added, “We feel
they should lead by example.” Battenberg called for formation of a coalition
of employees, unions, and nonprofits to examine expenses and trim all the fat
before any jobs or services are cut.

The County has opened a new one-stop Operations Center to consolidate services
and eliminate costly leased space. The project will employ over 3,500
San Diegans. In addition, County shovels are poised for federal stimulus
funds. “More than $731 million in projects are ready to launch at a moment’s
notice,” Jacob said.

One bright spot has been a decrease in crime, due in part to a rapid response
DNA team that solved over 200 cold crimes. But gang-related crime
remains out of hand, To combat the problem, a new plan will embed pastors,
coaches, teachers and mentors alongside law enforcement officers to intervene
and help children of gang members avoid following parents down criminal paths. Jacob
also pledged to seek support for legislation to allow San Diego to be a pilot
county utilizing ignition interlocks to prevent drunk drivers from becoming
repeat offenders.

Mack Jenkins, Chief Probation Officer

But Mack Jenkins, Chief Probation Officer for the County, expressed concerns
over how his department can supervise paroled criminals if the state makes
deep budget cuts for probation services as anticipated. “We might be
decreasing services and supervising fewer people, or not providing the level
of supervision.” The department will prioritize supervision for the highest
risk offenders, he said. But asked whether crime will increase, he replied,
“Certainly that is our concern.”

Jacob assured that despite the challenges ahead, “the County’s walls will
stay strong and its doors will stay open.”