COUNTYWIDE : Continuance Urged for Welfare Funds

Frustrated by the budget stalemate in Sacramento, Supervisor Don R. Roth wrote a letter to Gov. George Deukmejian asking for his help in bringing about an agreement that will guarantee a continued flow of money to Orange County’s welfare recipients.

In a letter written Thursday, Roth said the budget standoff means that $37.1 million in state funds intended for Orange County for the month of July are being withheld, including $19.1 million to cover local welfare checks.

The state Senate approved a $52-billion-plus budget Tuesday, but its tax and fee increases set it up for likely defeat in the Assembly.

Members of a joint Senate-Assembly budget committee took up the measure Friday, but by afternoon they were divided and talks had stalled.

Roth said the county’s proposed budget includes provisions to continue funding for critical programs for a while.

But he complained that the county is pinched unfairly in a state budget impasse because it is required to operate entitlement programs without state funds.

“This current situation simply highlights the lack of state concern in underfunding its mandates and withholding what limited funding is required to support the entitlement programs,” Roth wrote.

He said he is particularly concerned because of the increasing conflict between growing program demands and the decrease in state funding.

“I believe the state budgeting system must address the appropriate and timely funding of the programs which it requires the County of Orange to operate,” Roth said.

Roth suggested that the state could solve the problem by adopting a budget provision to ensure continuation of a current year’s aid into the next fiscal year if necessary, or by establishing a special trust fund to cover such aid if lawmakers must debate the budget into the next fiscal year.

He also suggested that legislators draft a budget that includes July payments in the prior fiscal year’s budget so that all mandated programs are covered while the new budget is debated.